PRIVY COUNCIL

Modernisation

Ben Chapman: To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to ask the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons to review the recent reform of the system of application for adjournment debates in Westminster Hall.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House has no such plans. His impression is that the new rota, by which Departments are available for debates on every alternate week, is working well.

Working Hours

Bob Spink: To ask the President of the Council what recent representations he has had on the working hours of the House of Commons.

John Reid: In the last month, I have received three letters on the working hours of the House of Commons, one of them from my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody). The issue has also been raised in many informal conversations both in the House and elsewhere.

TRANSPORT

Alconbury Airfield

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 13 May, Official Report, column 136W, on Alconbury Airfield, where the public exhibition was held recently and when; and where and when a further public exhibition is being planned for later this month.

David Jamieson: The public exhibition on the Gatwick options was held on 2–3 May at the Gatwick Hilton Hotel. A further public exhibition will held on 31 May at the Arora Hotel, Crawley.

Central Railway Scheme

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 11December 2002, Official Report, column 351W, on the Central Railway Scheme, what conclusion he has reached on making the Strategic Rail Authority's report to him on the Central Railway Scheme publicly available.

John Spellar: holding answer 7 May 2003
	We have asked for further information from Central Railway on several matters before any decision can be taken on whether the Department should support its project.
	In particular, we need to be assured that all outstanding operational and financial issues have been resolved.

Crossrail

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding Crossrail; what his Department estimates to be the duration of the Crossrail project; and when the Department expects the project to be completed.

David Jamieson: I regularly discuss Crossrail matters with ministerial colleagues, including those in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and will continue to do so while the current proposals are evaluated. No timetable for the project has been decided.

Cycling Projects Fund

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the Cycling Projects Fund has been allocated; and to which projects.

David Jamieson: In the first round of the Cycling Projects Fund, 138 local projects aiming to increase cycling were awarded a total of £2.18 million. Seven of those projects have subsequently had to withdraw, leaving the total funding at just over £2 million. I have placed details of all the remaining projects in the Libraries of the House.
	In January this year, we invited bids for the second round of the Fund, for which we have made £1 million available. My Department is currently considering 466 applications and I expect to announce the successful bidders during June.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake an inquiry into the incidence, extent and cause of deep vein thrombosis among British air travellers, with specific reference to the case of Sara Newman.

David Jamieson: The Government are already helping research into the incidence, extent and cause of deep vein thrombosis among air travellers being carried out under the auspices of the World Health Organisation.

Rails

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans Network Rail has for reducing the quantity of rails ordered for (a) 2004 and (b) subsequent years.

David Jamieson: The issue of procurement is a commercial one for Network Rail. The company advises that its demand for rails continues to increase in line with its extensive renewal programme.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Courts' System

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures the Lord Chancellor is taking to increase public confidence in the courts' system.

Yvette Cooper: The Lord Chancellor's Department is working with the Home Office and the Crown Prosecution Service to deliver a substantial programme of reform to improve confidence in the criminal justice system, including the courts.

Election Turnouts

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps the Government are taking to encourage greater turnout in elections.

Yvette Cooper: The Government have introduced a series of pilots in the voting system to make it easier for people to vote and support increasing turnout. We are currently reviewing the success of the recent round of voting pilots to inform future measures.

Probate

Win Griffiths: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to review probate procedures.

Rosie Winterton: A wide-ranging review of probate services and procedures took place in 2001 as part of the Modernising the Civil Courts programme (now the Courts and Tribunals Modernisation Programme). This was supported by PA Consulting Group, an independent management systems and technology consulting firm, who reported their findings and recommendations to the Court Service in August 2001. Consultation took place between 25 November 2002 and 28 February 2003, and we are now analysing the responses. There are no plans for any further reviews.

Witness Attendance

Graham Allen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps the Lord Chancellor is taking to reduce delays in cases caused by lawyers unreasonably requiring witnesses repeatedly to attend court.

Yvette Cooper: Witnesses are usually only required to attend court on the day the case is listed for trial. However, occasionally the needs of justice may require adjournment of a case to allow for re-examination of a witness. An adjournment would only be made on the request of the parties and it would be entirely a matter for the judge hearing the case to decide whether or not such a request was reasonable. Judges are mindful of the distress and inconvenience that can be caused by delay and wherever possible will work to avoid unnecessary adjournments.

Ineffective Trials

Brian Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what actions the Department is taking to reduce the number of ineffective trials.

Yvette Cooper: The proportion of ineffective trials has reduced since 1997. The Lord Chancellor's Department is working with the Home Office and Crown Prosecution Service to reduce the number of ineffective trials further, including through the Case Preparation Project.

Magistrates Courts

Bob Spink: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent representations the Lord Chancellor has received on restructuring the magistrates' courts system.

Yvette Cooper: The Lord Chancellor and I have received representations about the plan to bring together the administration of the courts into a single organisation. These have come from the full range of stakeholders of the court system. We are particularly grateful to the Judiciary, Association of Justices' Chief Executives, the Justices' Clerks Society, Magistrates' Association, the Association of Magisterial Officers, the PCS and the Central Council of Magistrates Courts Committees for their active participation in developing these proposals. The Lord Chancellor and I have received a number of letters from Chairmen of magistrates courts benches.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Human Rights

Alan Reid: To ask the Advocate-General what human rights issues she has dealt with since 8 April.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland, Official Report, 20 May 2003; Vol. 405, c. 832.

Devolution

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Advocate-General what devolution issues she has considered since 8 April.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland, Official Report, 20 May 2003; Vol. 405, c. 832.

SCOTLAND

Post Office Universal Bank

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has made to the leading Scottish clearing banks about their participation in the Post Office Universal Bank.

Anne McGuire: Universal Banking services have been available at Post Offices since 1 April. As a result of discussion between Government and the major banks, the banks are participating in the Universal Banking project by giving access to their basic bank accounts at Post Offices.

Pension Credit

Ernie Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps she is taking to publicise the new Pensions Credit in Scotland.

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans her Department has to ensure that pensioners in Scotland take up the Pension Credit.

Anne McGuire: The Pension Service is writing to all pensioner households to explain Pension Credit and invite applications. This will be supported by extensive advertising.

Pension Credit

Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pensioners in Scotland she expects will take up the Pension Credit.

Anne McGuire: Around 400,000 pensioner households in Scotland will be eligible for Pension Credit when it is introduced in October 2003.

Marine Issues

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what environmental responsibilities she has in relation to marine issues.

Helen Liddell: As Secretary of State for Scotland I represent Scottish interests in reserved matters within the Government. Lead policy responsibility for reserved aspects of marine environment policy lies with DEFRA. Matters reserved to the Government are set out in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998.

Euro

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the implications of membership of the euro for the Scottish economy.

Helen Liddell: The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest. Any Government decision on the euro will be based on a thorough and rigorous assessment of the five economic tests and the implications of membership for the entire UK economy. The economic case must be clear and unambiguous before the Government will recommend membership.

Postal Services

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues concerning postal services and post offices in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: I am in regular contact with ministerial colleagues in the DTI about a variety of issues relating to postal services and post offices in Scotland, including the programme of support for the maintenance of the rural post office network.

New Aircraft Carriers

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will visit the shipyards on the Clyde and at Rosyth to discuss the awarding of the contract for the two new aircraft carriers.

Helen Liddell: I was pleased to visit the Clyde and Rosyth shipyards earlier this year, and also to participate with my hon. Friend the Minister for the armed forces in announcing the selection of the Prime Contractor for the Future Aircraft Carrier programme. I fully recognise the benefits the carrier programme will bring to the Scottish shipbuilding industry. I expect to make further visits to keep in touch with progress and to consider other opportunities for the industry.

Animal Carcase Disposal

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she will discuss with members of the Scottish Executive the disposal of animal carcases on offshore islands.

Anne McGuire: I hope to have an early meeting with the relevant Scottish Executive Minister to discuss a range of agricultural issues.

Airport Planning Applications

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who will take the final decision on a planning application for a Scottish airport.

Helen Liddell: Land use planning in Scotland is a devolved matter.

Call Centres

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on prospects for employment in Scottish call centres.

Helen Liddell: The Government are already working with the industry to ensure the continuing development of this important business sector in Scotland. A number of initiatives are now in place to help companies improve their work force skills and assist the move into higher value-added services and to maintain and improve its competitiveness. I will be meeting the Chief Executive of the Call Centre Association shortly, to hear at first hand the industry's own assessment of its business growth potential in Scotland.

Constituency Boundaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has held with the Boundary Commission for Scotland regarding the review of Scottish constituency boundaries; if she will make a statement on progress of the review; and when she expects the recommendations of the review to be implemented.

Helen Liddell: The Commission is wholly independent and I have had no discussions on its review of the Scottish constituencies.
	The Commission must report to me by December 2006, and it is entirely a matter for the Commission when, within that timescale, it does so.

Scottish Parliament

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to propose amendments to the number of Members of the Scottish Parliament.

Helen Liddell: As announced in my statement to Parliament on 18 December 2002, I intend to amend the Scotland Act 1998 to maintain the current number of
	MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Broadcasting Rules (Parliamentary Estate)

Helen Jackson: To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what assessment the Commission has made of the effects of changes to the rules on broadcasting within the parliamentary estate.

Archy Kirkwood: I refer the hon. Lady to my answer today to the hon. Member for Gravesham (Mr. Pond), Official Report, 20 May 2003; Vol. 405, c. 841.

CABINET OFFICE

Ministerial Transport

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department was in 2002.

Douglas Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The amount spent on taxis by the Cabinet Office in the calendar year 2002, was £181,910.15.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Paul Clark: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to publish a command paper listing the regulatory impact assessments published during the latest six-month period.

Douglas Alexander: The Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, give effective protection, balance cost and risk, are fair and command public confidence. In accordance with this, we require Departments to produce and publish Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) for all regulatory proposals likely to have an impact on business, charities and the voluntary sector.
	My right hon. and noble friend Lord Macdonald of Tradeston has today presented to Parliament a Command Paper listing RIAs published between 1 July and 31 December 2002. Copies of those listed have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. This is the eighteenth such Command Paper.

TREASURY

Insurance Companies

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to amend the rules relating to the minimum solvency level of insurance companies; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Implementing rule changes affecting the solvency requirements for insurance companies is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The FSA is currently consulting on the necessary rule changes to implement Directive 2002/12/EC and Directive 2002/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards solvency margin requirements for life and non-life insurers respectively. Later this year, the FSA will be consulting on their intention to implement new 'enhanced' capital requirements and to take forward the framework set out in CP136 (Individual Capital Adequacy Standards) to implement a Basel type 'three pillar' approach for insurers.

Working Hours

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the total work force worked more than 40 hours a week, on average, in (a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 2000 and (d) 2002.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Cancer Statistics

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the latest five year survival rates for (a) breast, (b) lung, (c) cervical, (d) colon, (e) stomach, (f) prostate, (g) bladder and (h) lymphatic cancer are in (i) England, (ii) Teesside and (iii) the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and East, Cleveland.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Dr. Kumar, dated 20 May 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what the five year survival rates for (a) breast, (b) lung, (c) cervical, (d) colon, (e) stomach, (f) prostate and (g) bladder and (h) lymphatic cancer are in (i) England, (ii) Teesside and (iii) the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East. I am replying in his absence.(114309)
	Cancer survival rates at HA level are routinely estimated for eight cancers: the first seven listed in the question and cancer of the oesophagus, but not "lymphatic" cancer.
	The latest available information for England, Northern & Yorkshire Regional Office area and Tees Health Authority area are given in the table below. Survival rates are not available for other types of area, such as parliamentary constituencies. At the national level, figures are routinely presented for men and women separately, while those at regional and local levels are given for persons only.
	
		Five-year relative survival (%), persons diagnosed in 1993–95 and followed up to 31 December 2000: selected cancers, England, Northern & Yorkshire Regional Office area and Tees Health Authority area -- Percentage
		
			  England Northern & Yorkshire Tees HA 
			 Cancer Site Men Women Persons(1) Persons(1) 
		
		
			 Breast — 75.9 74.0 69 
			 Lung 5.5 5.5 4.4 2.8 
			 Cervix  66.0 65.5 57 
			 Colon 43.5 43.3 39.0 26 
			 Stomach 11.1 11.8 10.6 6.1 
			 Prostate 59.8  53.4 45 
			 Bladder 67.1 57.6 52.5 45 
		
	
	(1) Figures for breast cancer exclude the very small numbers of cases in men.Source:Report: Cancer survival in the health authorities of England, 1993–2000.Health Statistics Quarterly 13 (2002), 95–103. This is available on our website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme health/HSOl 3 v4.pdf'Cancer survival: five year relative survival rates in England by Health Authority up to 2000' at: http://www. statistics gov.uk/StatBase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D5389.xls for breast (female), lung, colon and prostate cancer.Survival rates for cervical, stomach, and bladder cancer are on the website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D5392.xls

Classified Documents

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many documents are held by his Department that are subject to security classification, broken down by category of classification.

Paul Boateng: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Douglas Alexander) on 7 May 2003, Official Report, column 696W.

Earnings

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what analysis has been made of the assessment of earnings levels for (a) each Government office region and (b) each constituency covered by Government Office for the North East, in the New Earnings Survey.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Dr. Ashok Kumar, dated 20 May 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the average earnings of people in the Government Office Regions and the constituencies within the North East. I am replying in his absence.
	The attached table shows average weekly earnings for the areas requested. The data are from the New Earnings Survey (NES) and apply to people on adult rates working full-time whose pay was not affected by absence.
	The NES can provide earnings data for small geographical areas. The release of NES data is restricted to figures that are derived from a sufficiently large sample of employees, and have an acceptable level of accuracy. I have provided the available data for the GO Regions and parliamentary constituencies in GO North East only for those areas where the samples are large enough. These are based on the 2002 NES, the latest survey for which data are available.
	
		Average gross weekly earnings(2) (£) by location of workplace
		
			  New earnings survey, April 2002 
		
		
			  
			  
			 North East 399.3 
			 Middlesborough 366.1 
			 Stockton North 424.2 
			 Stockton South 403.0 
			 Bishop Auckland 388.0 
			 City of Durham 425.4 
			 Darlington 365.8 
			 Easington 354.1 
			 North Durham 338.7 
			 Sedgefield 395.3 
			 Wansbeck 399.0 
			 Blaydon 359.1 
			 Houghton and Washington East 414.8 
			 Jarrow 384.9 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend 340.7 
			 North Tyneside 406.6 
			 South Shields 366.3 
			 Sunderland North 373.9 
			 Tyne Bridge 422.4 
			 North West 426.8 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 409.9 
			 East Midlands 413.0 
			 West Midlands 427.3 
			 South West 421.7 
			 East 459.6 
			 London 624.1 
			 South East 496.7 
			 Wales 399.7 
			 Scotland 427.0 
		
	
	(2) Full-time employees on adult rates, whose pay was not affected by absence.

ECOFIN Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 13th May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I attended the ECOFIN meeting on 13 May, which was the first ECOFIN attended by the accession countries as active observers.
	The Commission presented the 2004 Preliminary Draft Budget, which will be the first budget for an EU of 25 member states, and also the first to use activity-based budgeting, matching resources to outputs. I tabled a UK paper on the reform of external actions expenditure, emphasising the need for greater poverty focus, effectiveness and efficiency.
	ECOFIN had an orientation discussion on the 2003–05 Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPGs). I, along with some other member states, stressed the importance of the EU delivering on its economic reform agenda to boost growth and jobs. It was agreed that Finance Ministers would submit a covering letter to the BEPGs highlighting the key priorities for growth, in particular labour market reform, the implications of ageing populations and the sustainability of public finances. The BEPGs will be agreed at ECOFIN on 3 June for submission to the Thessaloniki European Council.
	ECOFIN adopted an Opinion on the Austrian Stability programme, and also agreed a mandate for the Economic Policy Committee to produce a progress report on the overall impact of ageing populations on public finances for the November ECOFIN.
	ECOFIN adopted the Occupational Pensions Directive, as amended by the European Parliament, with Belgium making an oral statement and Estonia a written statement. The adoption of this directive, an important cornerstone of the Financial Services Action Plan and the first step towards a single market for occupational retirement provision, represents an excellent outcome for the UK.
	I presented the UK's proposal for an International Finance Facility (IFF). This is an important initiative designed to raise substantial extra resources and make a stable, long-term commitment to development countries to help them meet the UN Millennium Development Goals. After discussion, the Presidency concluded that the IFF was an interesting initiative, which should be discussed again by ECOFIN in the near future, following an examination of the financial aspects in the Economic and Financial Committee.
	ECOFIN discussed a Presidency paper on the right to deduct value added taxation (VAT). Following discussion, it was agreed that further consideration of this issue by ECOFIN should await the Commission Communication on a VAT Strategy and their proposal on the place of supply of services.
	Over lunch, Ministers discussed the tax package and the Italian request for a Council decision under Article 88(2) on the repayment of Italian milk quota fines. Ministers agreed: that the tax package is not to be reopened and that all reservations on it should be lifted; that Ambassadors in COREPER should examine the Italian proposal on milk quotas with a view to allowing the Council to take a decision on this in June; and that the Council should take the final decisions on both the tax package and on the Italian request regarding milk quotas in June.
	A vote was held on the Occupational Pensions Directive, with Belgium abstaining.

Finance Bill

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the level of price for a barrel of oil at which he would not introduce on 1 October the annual valorisation of petrol prices set out in Clause 4 of the Finance Bill.

John Healey: In his Budget Speech of 9 April 2003, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor stated that he was deferring the annual revalorisation of fuel duties until 1 October 2003
	"owing to the recent high and volatile level of oil prices as a result of military conflict in Iraq".
	He also said
	"if the current international uncertainties and volatility remain, I will not proceed with the change at all".
	[Official Report, 9 April 2003, col. 278,]

Inland Revenue Consultants

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have taken retirement from the Inland Revenue since 1997 and subsequently been engaged to carry on (a) consultancy and (b) other work for the Revenue.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not hold centrally any information on the previous employment history of those engaged as consultants by its business areas. Figures from 1997 to 2002 would only be available at disproportionate cost.

Interest Rates

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the annual savings to the Exchequer which would result from lower debt interest costs if United Kingdom interest rates were (a) 0.5 per cent. (b) 0.75 per cent., (c) 1 per cent., (d) 2 per cent. and (e) 3 per cent. lower across the yield curve for 2003–04.

Paul Boateng: Reductions in yields across the yield curve will not affect the cost of servicing debt that has been issued at fixed rates, but will affect interest payments made on new debt that is issued and on variable interest rate debt. The following table sets out the estimated debt interest savings that would arise from changes to interest rates:
	
		
			 Fall in interest rates across theyield curve in 2003–04 Estimated savings in debt interest in 2003–04 (£ billion) 
		
		
			 0.5 per cent. 0.4 
			 0.75 per cent. 0.6 
			 1 per cent. 0.8 
			 2 per cent. 1.6 
			 3 per cent. 2.4

KPMG

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contracts his Department has awarded to KPMG since 1997.

Paul Boateng: From the start of 1997 to date the Treasury has let eight contracts to KPMG.

Liability Insurance

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the findings of the Office of Fair Trading fact-finding study into the UK liability insurance market will be published.

Nigel Griffiths: I have been asked to reply.
	The Office of Fair Trading intends to publish its fact-finding study shortly.

Net Immigration

Peter Lilley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) medium and (b) long-term assumptions about net immigration into the UK have been made in each of the population projections produced by the Office for National Statistics since 1990; and what has been the outcome in each year over that period.

John Healey: National population projections are produced by the Government Actuary's Department at the request of the Registrars General of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. New projections are normally prepared every second year. The 2000-based, and earlier, projections were prepared before 2001 Census results became available. The interim 2001-based projections take preliminary account of the results of the 2001 Census. A 2002-based set of projections, taking account of the further Census related data which have and will become available during 2003, is provisionally scheduled for publication in the autumn.
	The previously published medium and long-term assumptions of annual net migration to the United Kingdom made in national population projections since 1990 are given in Table A as follows.
	
		Table A: Assumed medium and long-term annual net migration to the United Kingdom in national population projections
		
			  Number 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1991-based and 1992-based projections 50,000 each year from 1997–98 to 2006–07 reducing to zero each year from 2015–16 
			 1994-based projections 50,000 each year from 1999–2000 to 2008–09 reducing to zero each year from 2018–19 
			 1996-based projections 65,000 each year from 1998–99 
			 1998-based projections 95,000 each year from 2001–02 
			 2000-based projections 135,000 each year from 2002–03 
			 Interim 2001-based projections 100,000 each year from 2002–03 
		
	
	Source:
	Government Actuary's Department
	The Office for National Statistics have published an interim revised series of net international migration for 1992 to 2001 that takes preliminary account of the 2001 Census results. The previously published figures are given in Table B as follows. Further revisions to the international migration series will be published in the coming weeks. These revisions will take account of further research.
	
		Table B: Interim revised international migration estimates—1992–2001
		
			  Net migration to the United Kingdom 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1992 -41,600 
			 1993 -41,600 
			 1994 31,600 
			 1995 30,700 
			 1996 13,800 
			 1997 10,800 
			 1998 96,300 
			 1999 100,500 
			 2000 99,600 
			 2001 125,700 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Public Assets

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the income received from the sale of publicly owned assets since May 1997.

Paul Boateng: Since April 1997, central and local government have realised some £26.2 billion from the sale of fixed assets.

Tax Credits

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been received concerning the operations of the public helpline for tax credits since its introduction.

Dawn Primarolo: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) on 28 April 2003, Official Report, column 161W.

Tax Credits

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 7 May, Official Report, column 689W, on tax credits, if he will hold discussions with the Child Poverty Action Group on passported benefits available with the child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government discuss passported benefits attached to the new tax credits with a wide range of organisations.

Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many standard letters the Inland Revenue has issued (a) in total and (b) in the last month to tax credit applicants, asking them to confirm their name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 19 May 2003
	Standard letters seeking to confirm name, address, date of birth, national insurance numbers—and other details—relevant to tax credit claims are issued as part of normal day to day claims processing and compliance activity.
	Figures on the number of standard letters issued are not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.

Tax Credits

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 7 May 2003, Official Report, column 689W, on tax credits, if he will put details about the passported benefits available with tax credits on the application forms; and whether the leaflet described in his response will be sent to all those in receipt of tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: The notes that accompany the tax credit claim form already refer to other help—such as free prescriptions—that maybe available.
	The new leaflet (WTC6) is now available on the Inland Revenue website and will soon also be available on request from Inland Revenue Enquiry Centres.

Tax Credits

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to provide a freephone number for people (a) making enquiries about and (b) following up claims for the (i) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The Tax Credits Helpline, along with other helplines operated by the Inland Revenue, are charged at local call rates. The telephone response line—0800 500222—featured in the advertising campaigns since September 2002 providing general information on eligibility and claim packs is a freephone number.

Tax Credits

Bill Tynan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average time taken by the Inland Revenue children's and working tax credits helpline to deal with calls has been since August 2002; how many calls were lost or terminated before being answered by a helpline operator; and how these figures compare with the targets set for the helpline.

Dawn Primarolo: For the Great Britain helpline, over the period August 2002 to March 2003 inclusive, an average time of about 4 minutes and 40 seconds elapsed between an adviser answering a call and their ending any immediate post-call action on that case.
	In the same period, out of a total of 5,701,108 calls received, 4,594,743 were answered by a helpline operator, with 1,106,365 calls where the caller was put in a queue to speak to an adviser, following the selection of an option from the call steering menu, but the call was lost or terminated before the caller spoke to the adviser.
	There were no service delivery targets for either figure for this period.

Tax Credits

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many persons in London, broken down by borough, have applied for working tax credit; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average time has been for dealing with applications in London for working tax credit, broken down by borough; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what the average period of time has been since the introduction of working tax credits from application to first payment in London, broken down by borough; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Figures for applications received for Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit are not available below the national level. Statistics on awards of these tax credits will be published in August.
	For the time taken to process applications, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 28 April 2003, Official Report, column 161W.

Tax Returns

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what target the Inland Revenue has set for the number of individual taxpayers filing self assessment tax returns on the internet by 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue Public Service Agreement 2003–2006 posted on the Inland Revenue Internet site on 14 February 2003 sets out the targets for electronic filing.
	The Inland Revenue has set a target of 25 per cent. of SA returns filed electronically by 2005–06. This includes SA returns filed electronically, including but not differentiating those filed by agents. Electronically means Filing by Internet Service (FBI) or Electronic Lodgement Service (ELS).

Unemployment

John MacDougall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the latest unemployment claimant count was in (a) Scotland and (b) Fife.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. MacDougall dated 20 May 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the latest unemployment claimant count for Scotland and Fife.
	In April 2003, there were 103,385 claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance benefit in Scotland, and 8,591 claimants in the Fife Local Authority District.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Education Funding

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the specific and targeted grant funding allocated by his Department, other than general grant related funding, to local authorities and schools (a) in each region of England and (b) in total in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04 (estimated).

David Miliband: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Examination Results

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils gained (a) A*-A grades in five or more subjects and (b) A*-B grades in five or more subjects (i) in areas which are wholly selective and (ii) in areas which are wholly comprehensive in their provision of secondary education in the last year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The information is as follows:
	(i) Within the LEAs deemed wholly selective the following percentages of pupils achieved grades A*-A and A*-B in five or more GCSEs in 2002:
	Wholly Selective
	A*-A grades in five or more GCSEs: 15.1 per cent.
	A*-B grades in five or more GCSEs: 32.1per cent.
	(ii) Within the LEAs deemed wholly comprehensive the following percentages of pupils achieved grades A*-A and A*-B in five or more GCSEs in 2002:
	Wholly Comprehensive
	A*-A grades in five or more GCSEs: 8.6per cent.
	A*-B grades in five or more GCSEs: 23.1 per cent.
	(iii) The following percentages of pupils in all maintained schools in England achieved grades A*-A and A*-B in five or more GCSEs in 2002:
	A*-A grades in five or more GCSEs: 9.7 per cent.
	A*-B grades in five or more GCSEs: 24.6 per cent.
	The comparisons above take no account of the value added by the LEAs concerned. They are not adjusted for differences in pupils' prior attainment, nor to reflect the fact that selective LEAs, in aggregate, have lower levels of socio-economic disadvantage. 11 per cent. of pupils in wholly selective authorities are known to be eligible for free school meals, compared to 17 per cent. in wholly comprehensive authorities.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the French Government are to be allowed privileged access to commercially sensitive information in connection with the CVF project; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: A Letter of Intent setting out the responsibilities of both countries in respect to the exchange of CVF information was signed by the then Chief of Defence Procurement and his French counterpart in April 2003. This makes clear that the provision of technical data between the United Kingdom and France is subject to security and commercial constraints, including those that might touch upon the interests of third parties.

Boer War

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at how many sites in South Africa are British service personnel who died during the Boer War thought to be buried; what estimate his Department has made of the cost of maintaining these burial sites; how much the British Government contributes towards the maintenance of these burial sites; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: There are over 350 separate sites containing the graves of British service personnel in South Africa, including isolated graves dug where soldiers fell. These sites contain approximately 20,000 individual graves.
	The Government currently contributes £15,000 per annum to the South African Heritage Resources Agency for the maintenance of British war graves.

Canberra

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of options to replace the Canberra PR9; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Canberra PR9 reconnaissance aircraft is an important component of our overall Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance capability. We are currently assessing the ways in which the aircraft's particular capabilities could be provided, and enhanced, in the future.

Chartered Transport Aircraft

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on chartering transport aircraft in the past six months.

Adam Ingram: During the six-month period, November 2002 to April 2003, the Ministry of Defence has spent some £50.3 million on the chartering of commercial transport aircraft. This figure is provisional and subject to final audit. The majority of this ad hoc chartering was in support of operations in Iraq, including the strategic leg of the casualty evacuation process. Charter aircraft have also been required to support other operations, including the transfer of Service personnel from Germany and Northern Ireland to cover the fire dispute, the deployment of the Spearhead Lead Element to Sierra Leone, plus routine trooping.

Departmental Staff

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of regional variations in staff turnover in his Department.

Lewis Moonie: There has been no recent assessment specifically of regional variations in civilian staff turnover in the Ministry of Defence. Total civilian staff turnover is regularly assessed at corporate level, along with turnover for corporately-managed groups of staff (including senior managers and corporate development schemes). Responsibility for management of most civilian staff has been delegated to Top Level Budget Holders and Agency Chief Executives, who make their own assessments of local turnover levels as they judge necessary.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States administration in respect of low-cost production of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Adam Ingram: We do not expect to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States on the production of Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the United Kingdom before 2006.

Gulf War Widows

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he will take to support widows and partners of service personnel who died in the Gulf conflict.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 May 2003, Official Report, columns 452–53W, to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Redcar (Ms Baird).

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department have received honours; and how many honours are held by his officials, broken down by category of honour.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence does not maintain comprehensive data about honours held by its civilian officials. However, the awards received by MOD civil servants in the period from the New Year Honours List 1998 to the New Year Honours List 2003 inclusive comprise: K-4; CB-11; CBE-16; CMG-3; OBE-64 and MBE-149.

Iraq

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many children, up to the age of 14, have been injured in the military conflict in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We have no means of verifying the number of children under 15 years of age injured during the conflict in Iraq. In carrying out attacks against Iraqi military objectives, all feasible precautions were taken to avoid, and in any event to minimise, incidental loss of civilian life or injury to civilians.

Iraq

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Defence Logistics Organisation was first notified to begin contingency plans for deployment in Operation Telic; and when it first began deploying equipment to the Gulf as part of Operation Telic.

Adam Ingram: Existing Ministry of Defence planning assumptions take account of a range of possible operational contingencies. On 24 September 2002 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear, in relation to events in Iraq, that alongside diplomacy there must be genuine preparedness and planning to take action if diplomacy fails. Staffs of the Defence Logistics Organisation were involved in contingency planning for potential operations in Iraq.
	The main deployment of equipment to the Gulf began on 15 January 2003, although some equipment and ammunition was pre-positioned in Cyprus slightly before this.

Iraq

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Iraqi, (b) US, (c) British and (d) other (i) combatants and (ii) civilians have been killed as a result of military action in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: Thirty-five British servicemen have lost their lives to date in the course of operations in Iraq. In addition, we are aware only that two United Kingdom journalists lost their lives while reporting inside Iraq.
	The number of United States casualties is a matter for the US Government.
	We have no means of ascertaining the numbers of Iraqi military or civilian lives lost during the course of operations in Iraq, although we made every effort to keep any impact upon the Iraqi civilian population to an absolute minimum.

Medical Staff (Gulf Deployment)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many junior doctors in the reserve forces have been mobilised to provide medical support to operations in the Gulf and Iraq; of these, how many are in band three posts in the NHS and receiving compensation for the loss of income, including NHS band three payments; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: As at 14 April 2003,12 reservist junior doctors had been mobilised in support of military action against Iraq. Of these, 11 are receiving financial assistance for loss of civilian earnings in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act 1996, and one is known to be employed in a NHS band three post.

Medical Staff (Gulf Deployment)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior NHS consultants have been deployed to serve with TA medical services in field hospitals in the Gulf.

Lewis Moonie: As at 15 May 2003, the number of NHS consultants deployed to the Gulf to serve with the TA medical services in field hospitals stands at 43.

Military Trucks

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the military truck contract; for what reason the announcement on the military truck contract has been delayed; and whether (a) the present bidders will remain the same and (b) new companies will be invited to tender.

Adam Ingram: All existing bidders for the Support Vehicle contract have been invited to address shortfalls in their current bids. New bidders will not be invited to participate in the competition.

Northern Ireland

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the reports of Sir John Stevens.

Adam Ingram: Sir John Stevens submitted his interim report to the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on the 17 April 2003. All enquiries should therefore be directed to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Nuclear Sites

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for nuclear sites run by his Department, other than those operated by contractors, to be regulated under the (a) Nuclear Installations Act 1965 and (b) Radioactive Substances Act 1993; and if he will set out international (i) safety and (ii) environmental conventions that apply to defence nuclear sites.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Nuclear Submarines

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the disposal of the Royal Navy's redundant nuclear submarines; and whether he plans to move these submarines from their present location.

Adam Ingram: Industry are in the process of submitting outline proposals for undertaking the work to store intermediate level waste from our decommissioned nuclear powered submarines. An exercise will then determine the most effective procurement strategy, and detailed evaluation, which will inform a further period of public consultation, will lead to the selection of potential bidders who will be invited to undertake more detailed negotiations. This is expected to take around three years to complete and after further public consultation will result in the selection of a preferred bidder, solution and site. Currently we have no plans to move our decommissioned nuclear powered submarines from their present locations.

Nuclear Submarines

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce a PFI scheme for the management of defence nuclear waste from nuclear submarine decommissioning.

Adam Ingram: We are undertaking a project to determine the interim land storage arrangements for Intermediate Level Waste from decommissioned nuclear powered submarines, and industry are in the process of submitting outline proposals for undertaking the work. Private Finance Initiative, partnering and prime contracting are the procurement options currently being considered, with PFI being the preferred option in accordance with Treasury Guidelines. PFI will only be pursued, however, if it can be demonstrated that it offers the most effective procurement strategy.

Phoenix

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK defence industry retains the capability to remanufacture Phoenix Air Vehicles.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom's defence industry retains the capability to resume manufacture of Phoenix Air Vehicles, although there are, at present, no plans to request it to do so.

Sponsorship

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of his Department's projects have received sponsorship in the last financial year; who the sponsor was in each case; what the nature of each project was; what time period was covered by each project; what the total cost of each project was; how much money was involved in each sponsorship deal; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Details of individual amounts of sponsorship valued at more than £5,000 are published in a supplementary document to the Department's Annual Perform Copies are available in the libraries of the House. The 2003 Report will be published in the autumn.

Systems amd Equipment Exhibition

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will list the countries from which buyers (a) have been and (b) will be invited to the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition;
	(2)  on which days the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition will be open to (a) overseas customers, (b) the press and (c) the public;
	(3)  what the estimated cost is of the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition to the UK Government;
	(4)  how many visitors are expected at the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition.

Adam Ingram: The exhibition is an international trade event organised by a commercial company. It will be open by invitation to overseas visitors and accredited members of the media from 9 to 12 September 2003 inclusive. The event will not be open to the public.
	The organisers hope to attract some 25,000 visitors.
	The full list of countries from which Official Defence Delegations will be invited to attend is not yet complete. I will write to my hon. Friend when final details are available and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
	The direct cost to the Ministry of Defence identified centrally is estimated at some £400,000. In addition, representatives of Her Majesty's Government may carry out activities associated with the exhibition, as part of their normal duties, which could be identified only at disproportionate cost.

Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for Urgent Operational Requirements for tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Adam Ingram: There are currently no plans to acquire tactical UAVs through the Urgent Operational Requirements' (UOR) process. In line with normal practice, operational requirements are kept under review and the UOR procedure will be used if such a need is identified to enhance our surveillance and reconnaissance capability.

Trafalgar Day

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial support his Department is proposing for the Sea Cadets to assist in Trafalgar Day celebrations; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence provides annual funding of nearly £8 million to the Sea Cadet Association under a Memorandum of Understanding and lends other forms of practical support. The SCA will be drawing on this to fund Sea Cadets' participation in the Trafalgar Day celebrations.

Typhoon

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on measures taken to ensure that the Typhoon can be used on the future large aircraft carrier.

Adam Ingram: We have no plans, nor any requirement, for Typhoon to operate from our future aircraft carriers.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Bylaws

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 27 April 2003, Official Report, column 332W, on bylaws, if he will make a statement on the content of applications received by the Department of Environment from Ards borough council requesting permission to invoke new bylaws in the past 10 years; when they were received by the Department of Environment; what action has been taken towards granting permission on each separate application; how many of these applications are within the power of the Department to confirm; and when local government authorities are notified that an application has not been successful.

Angela Smith: In total four applications are currently with the Department of Environment for confirmation of bylaws. Each application contains a large number of provisions, which fall within one of the eight model sets of Home Office bylaws. The main provisions proposed under each set of bylaws are as follows:
	1. Under "Pleasure Grounds, Public Walks and Open Spaces" bylaws for the regulation and management of playgrounds; the control of certain sports; the protection of flora and fauna; the erection and removal of structures and restrictions on vehicles.
	2. Under "Seashores, Esplanades and Promenades" bylaws for the control of public meetings; restrictions on the use of noisy instruments; the control of animals; restrictions on vehicles; entry to public conveniences and interference with life-saving equipment.
	3. Under "Good Rule and Government" bylaws for restrictions on noisy music and the use of noisy instruments; the control of reckless/wilful behaviour; the control of games near streets and nuisance from roller skating in public places.
	4. Under "Good Rule and Government" bylaws relating to the control of district council car parks.
	All four applications were received on 16 March 1994 and action has been taken on each of them. Each application has been the subject of extensive correspondence and discussion involving district councils and legal advisers for local and central Government. Each application does not adhere strictly to the relevant set of model bylaws and is currently at a different stage of consideration.
	All four applications are within the power of the Department to confirm and in one case joint confirmation with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is required. The Department of Environment has not notified any district council during the period that its application has not been successful.

Data Protection

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since early October 2002, how many people have been informed that their details were held by the Provisional IRA; and how many of them are (a) prison officers, (b) police officers and (c) political representatives.

Jane Kennedy: The information sought by the hon. Lady will take some time to collate. I will write as soon as possible.

Evacuated Dwellings Scheme

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total costs of the special purchase of evacuated dwellings scheme were in the last financial year.

Des Browne: The total costs of the Special Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings (SPED) Scheme for 2002–03 were £32,950,000. (This includes administrative costs of the scheme.)

Fishing (Decommissioning)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications have been submitted in relation to the decommissioning of fishing vessels as part of the most recently announced decommissioning scheme; how many are for boats (a) over 10 metres in length and (b) under 10 metres in length; with what type of fishing these vessels were involved; and how many applications have been (i) accepted and (ii) refused for vessels fishing out of (A) Portavogie, (B) Ardglass and (C) Kilkeel.

Ian Pearson: The recently announced decommissioning scheme has yet to be opened for receipt of applications. It is the intention that the scheme will be opened in the near future.

Fishing (Decommissioning)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the closing date for receipt of applications to the most recent fishing vessels decommissioning scheme was.

Ian Pearson: The information is as follows:
	1. The Fishing Vessel Decommissioning Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2001 was closed for receipt of application forms on the 15 November 2001 at 3.00pm.
	2. I have recently announced a new decommissioning scheme, which will open for receipt of applications as soon as possible.

Inward Investment (East Londonderry)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many visits have been made under the auspices of (a) Invest Northern Ireland and (b) the IDB by potential inward investors to the East Londonderry constituency; and how many jobs have been created in the past five years in the constituency.

Ian Pearson: Between 1997–98 and 2001–02, IDE arranged for a total of 22 visits to be made to the East Londonderry constituency by potential investors. In Invest NI's first year of operation (2002–03), it introduced eight potential investors to the constituency.
	The following table provides information on jobs created in IDE client companies in East Londonderry during the five years 1997–98 to 2001–02. Figures are not yet available for 2002–03.
	
		Jobs created in East Londonderry
		
			  
		
		
			 1997–98 1,103 
			 1998–99 309 
			 1999–2000 360 
			 2000–01 343 
			 2001–02 253 
			 Total 2,368 
		
	
	Invest NI's overseas sales and marketing activities present the business opportunity for Northern Ireland as a whole. However, in seeking to encourage the development of regional propositions, Invest NI's Local Office in Coleraine has been working closely with local stakeholders to ensure that the proposition for the East Londonderry area is maximised fully to attract visits by potential investors and result in the securing of new investment for the area.

Post Mortems

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where (a) organs, (b) blocks and (c) slides are stored for post mortems carried out at (i) Foster Green hospital and (ii) Belfast City hospital.

Des Browne: Organs, blocks and slides retained by the State Pathologist's Department following coroner's post mortem examinations carried out at Belfast City Mortuary (Forster Green) are stored in the State Pathologist's Department building on the Royal Victoria Hospital site in Belfast. There are no stored organs in the Belfast City Hospital Trust. Tissue blocks and slides are stored within the designated area in the histopathology laboratory.

Sports Funding

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether an individual hockey player in Northern Ireland is eligible for funding to compete for a British team at the Olympics.

Angela Smith: If a hockey player in Northern Ireland meets the eligibility criteria to be selected to compete for a British Team in the Olympics he/she would be eligible to apply for funding.

Sports Funding

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Northern Ireland Sports Council recognises the British Cycling Federation.

Angela Smith: The Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI) is aware that the British Cycling Federation is the recognised body for cycling in GB. The SCNI does not recognise the British Cycling Federation but rather recognises Cycling Ulster as the governing body for cycling within Northern Ireland.

Water/Sewage Services

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what measures are in place to ensure Northern Ireland meets the health and safety requirements for water and sewage services in respect of (a) trihalomethane and (b) cryptosporidium levels;
	(2)  what steps are being taken to improve Northern Ireland's water sewerage services; and what funding has been made available for these measures.

Angela Smith: The Chief Executive of Water Service has written to the hon. Member in response to his questions. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Terrorist Activity

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) shootings and (b) bombings there were; and how many devices were defused in Northern Ireland in the five years (i) prior to and (ii) following April 1998.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is set out in the following tables: Security Situation Statistics
	
		Number of shooting incidents
		
			  Total incidents 
		
		
			 1993–94 426 
			 1994–95 272 
			 1995–96 65 
			 1996–97 140 
			 1997–98 245 
			 1 April 1998 to 9 April 1998 7 
			 Total (prior to Belfast Agreement) 1,155 
			 10 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 180 
			 1999–2000 131 
			 2000–01 331 
			 2001–02 358 
			 2002–03 348 
			 Total (following Belfast Agreement) 1,348 
		
	
	Note
	The following types of incidents are included:
	Shots fired by terrorists; Shots fired by the security forces; Paramilitary-style attacks involving shootings; Shots heard (and later confirmed); Other violent incidents where shots are fired (e.g. armed robbery)
	
		Number of bombing incidents
		
			  Bombing incidents Devices defused 
		
		
			 1993–94 278 106 
			 1994–95 132 67 
			 1995–96 — — 
			 1996–97 50 39 
			 1997–98 73 45 
			 1 April 1998 to 9 April 1998 1 1 
			 TOTAL (prior to Belfast Agreement) 534 258 
			 10 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 122 121 
			 1999–2000 66 62 
			 2000–01 177 115 
			 2001–02 318 182 
			 2002–03 178 81 
			 TOTAL (following Belfast Agreement) 861 561 
		
	
	Notes:
	Bombing incidents: An individual bombing incident may involve one or more explosive devices. Incidents involving hoax devices, petrol bombings or incendiaries are excluded. During 2001–02 there was an increase in the use of pipe bombs by loyalists.
	2002–03 Statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Catering Policy

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of food sourced and served by the catering sections of each Department was (a) produced in Britain, (b) organic and (c) Fair Trade in each year since 1997; and what steps she is taking to increase those levels.

Elliot Morley: This information is not held centrally.
	I understand that caterers contracted to Defra source a high percentage of produce from the UK in summer but in the winter most comes from abroad. Our largest contractor sources 60 per cent. to 70 per cent. of the food from the UK during the summer: For meat all year round the figures are: chick bacon—mostly Dutch; pork—88 per cent. UK; lamb—20 per cent. UK; and beef—70 per cent. UK.
	Our published guidance for public sector bodies covers issues such as removing obstacles to tendering by local and UK producers and the purchase of organic and fair trade produce. It can be seen on our web site at: http://www.defra.qov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/index.htm. We are also taking a number of other steps to integrate sustainable development into the public procurement of food and catering services. These include seminars to raise awareness, bilateral meeting at Ministerial and senior management level (including with representatives of local government) and the production of case studies. The guidance takes account of the Government's policy of achieving value for money and their commitment under the EC rules to ensure that public procurement is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory.

Air Quality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will instruct the Environment Agency to take immediate steps to tackle the odour problems affecting Castle Point residents; what steps the Environment Agency is proposing to take; and how long she estimates it will take for her measures to be effective.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 16 May 2003
	The odour problems affecting Castle Point residents have been recognised and discussed with the Environment Agency which is already taking steps to tackle the problem. Further action is being discussed with the site operator.
	Work to prevent the escape of landfill gas from one of the two sources of odour has already begun. A final layer of waste is being put over the affected area, which will be followed by a clay 'cap' to seal it. The Environment Agency has required that this odour source be abated within three months and it is expected that this will be completed within this time.
	The second and most predominant source of odour has been treated with oxidising agents which eliminate the odour rapidly, but there has been difficulty in maintaining this and further efforts are being made to stabilise the source in an aerobic state. A number of additional measures are also being implemented.

Air Quality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been conducted by the Environment Agency into the sources of the odour problems that have affected Castle Point residents in recent months.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 16 May 2003
	Odours have been traced by the Environment Agency to two sources within the site. The first source is from an area of the landfill site from which landfill gas was escaping. The second is from a lagoon within the site. Research into the health effects of the landfill gas is currently being undertaken by the Environment Agency at the site. The research will look into any health impacts that may have been caused by the odours.

Air Quality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints and inquiries the Environment Agency has received about bad odours in South East Essex in the last three months.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 16 May 2003
	The Environment Agency has recorded 562 complaints up to the end of 13 May. 396 of these have been since 20 April.

Air Quality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what long term measures she will take to remove the recurrent problem of bad odours for Castle Point residents; and if she will visit Castle Point to discuss the problem.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 16 May 2003
	The Environment Agency has acted to ensure that more robust procedures are put in place to monitor for odours more actively at Pitsea landfill site. This will enable such odours to be detected and dealt with promptly. Planned activities which may potentially generate odours will be risk assessed to ensure that all measures are in place beforehand to minimise odour release.
	As the site nears the end of its operational life, more of it will be progressively capped and sealed, enabling landfill gas to be efficiently extracted and burned and for rainfall to be shed from the surface of the site without becoming contaminated.
	I am happy to discuss with the hon. Member or the Agency any further issues of concern if the local community remain anxious about the operation of the Pitsea landfill site.

Animal By-products

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the Animal By-Products Regulation with regard to placenta and afterbirth materials on farm holdings; and what measures she is taking to reduce their incidence.

Elliot Morley: No specific assessment has been made with regard to placenta and afterbirth materials. However, we would expect this material to be disposed of according to the Regulation.

Animal Disease

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's budget for tackling animal disease.

Elliot Morley: The 2003–04 overall budget allocation for tackling disease control is £668 million. The details are available in DEFRA's Departmental Report 2003 (Chapter 5 Core Table 2). A copy of the report can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/default.htm

Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the forthcoming publication, by the European Commission, of a new Directive on the transport of live animals; what efforts are being made to persuade European colleagues (a) to replace the transport of live animals by a trade in meat and (b) to adopt a maximum limit of eight hours per journey to slaughter; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Government would prefer a trade in meat rather than the long distance transport of animals for slaughter. We have consistently pressed for improvements in the current controls on the welfare of animals during transport and more recently for the introduction of a general eight hour maximum for journeys within the EU. We look forward to publication of the European Commission's long overdue proposals to update and improve the current directive.

Ash Residue

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations she plans to implement on the treatment of ash residue from (a) incineration of animal by-products and (b) human incineration at crematoria.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 May 2003
	The EU Animal By-Products Regulation requires that ash from low-capacity incinerators which burn whole ruminant carcases or other specified risk material(SRM) must be disposed of as waste to a licensed landfill site.
	Ash from incinerators which burn non-SRM material may be spread to land if it is derived from agricultural waste. However, the requirement for a waste management licence effectively prevents the application of non-agricultural waste e.g. from pet crematoria to land.
	Ash from the cremation of human corpses does not fall within the scope of waste legislation.

Bovine TB

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many herd breakdowns there have been in each of the last five years owing to a positive reaction to the test for bovine tuberculosis in each region of England; and how many of those herds were closed herds, with no stock brought onto the farms in question in the period since any previous tests.

Elliot Morley: The number of new herd incidents by county 1998–2002 is given in the following table:
	
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 England—Total 1,224 1,332 1,416 512 2,582 
			 Avon 42 50 53 18 98 
			 Bedfordshire — 1 1 — 1 
			 Berkshire 1 2  1 1 
			 Buckinghamshire 5 4 5 1 3 
			 Cambridgeshire — — 2 — — 
			 Cheshire 11 5 4 — 27 
			 Cleveland — — — — 1 
			 Cornwall 213 221 228 81 451 
			 Cumbria 8 9 4 2 33 
			 Derbyshire 18 48 23 16 65 
			 Devon 191 244 282 103 524 
			 Dorset 34 40 32 19 91 
			 Durham — 2 — — 3 
			 East Sussex 3 8 7 3 13 
			 Essex 3 — — — 2 
			 Gloucestershire 207 186 227 48 285 
			 Greater London—East 1 — — — — 
			 Greater London—South East — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester 6 1 — — 2 
			 Hampshire 3 1 4 2 6 
			 Hereford and Worcester 186 204 222 87 328 
			 Hertford 3 1 1 — 2 
			 Humberside 1 1 5 2 3 
			 Isle of Wight — 1 — — 1 
			 Isles of Scilly — — — — — 
			 Kent 1 — — — 1 
			 Lancashire 19 4 5 — 7 
			 Leicestershire 2 3 3 1 8 
			 Lincolnshire 1 12 3 — 4 
			 Merseyside — — — — — 
			 Norfolk — — 1 — 1 
			 North Yorkshire 1 2 1 1 8 
			 Northamptonshire 2 1 5 1 8 
			 Northumberland 7 8 8 3 26 
			 Nottinghamshire 4 — 5 1 4 
			 Oxfordshire 9 5 3 1 3 
			 Shropshire 23 17 39 11 67 
			 Somerset 77 82 102 29 165 
			 South Yorkshire 1 — 2 — — 
			 Staffordshire 69 63 48 51 172 
			 Suffolk 1 — — — 1 
			 Surrey — 1 — 1 — 
			 Tyne and Wear 1 — — — — 
			 Warwickshire 2 6 4 1 15 
			 West Midlands 1 1 — — 2 
			 West Sussex — 1 1 — 3 
			 West Yorkshire 2 — — — — 
			 Wiltshire 65 97 86 28 147 
		
	
	Note
	1. In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, the number of new herd incidents in 2002 is not comparable to that of previous years.
	2. No data are available on the number of closed herds.

Bovine TB

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered in the last five years in (a) England and Wales and (b) Herefordshire and Worcestershire as part of the campaign against tuberculosis.

Elliot Morley: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		Number of cattle slaughtered under bovine tuberculosis control measures 1998–2002 -- Number of cattle slaughtered(3)
		
			  (a) England and Wales (b) Herefordshire and Worcestershire 
		
		
			 1998 5,788 786 
			 1999 6,708 843 
			 2000 8,295 1,038 
			 2001 5,888 706 
			 2002 22,682 2,729 
		
	
	(3) TB reactors plus direct contacts.
	Note:
	In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests. The herds (and individual animals within the herds) would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, the numbers of reactors identified and slaughtered in 2002 is not comparable to those identified and slaughtered in previous years.

Bovine TB

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the incidence of TB in cattle for (a) England and Wales and (b) the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire in the last five years was.

Elliot Morley: The figures requested are given in the following table.
	
		TB herd incidence 1998–2002(4)
		
			  (a) TB herd incidence England and Wales (b) TB herd incidence Herefordshire and Worcestershire 
		
		
			 1998 2.30 6.07 
			 1999 2.55 6.40 
			 2000 3.14 7.65 
			 2001 4.19 9.17 
			 2002 4.52 11.70 
		
	
	(4) Confirmed new herd incidents as a percentage of tests on unrestricted herds.
	Note:
	In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, herd incidence in 2002 is not comparable to that of previous years.

Broadband

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the availability of broadband in rural areas.

Alun Michael: Recent developments and technical developments are increasing the potential for Broadband connections in many rural areas. DEFRA is working closely with the DTI to enable communities across the UK, to have the best possible opportunity to gain access to affordable broadband. The opportunity of public sector investment to bring broadband to wider rural communities is one we must not miss. Broadband has huge potential to overcome issues of distance and lead to increased productivity for our rural businesses, new ways of tackling learning and skills issues and better ways for rural communities to access government services. Much is going on in the RDAs, in local authorities and in communities throughout rural areas. The new DTI rural team, with DEFRA involvement, will provide valuable resources to assist and co-ordinate this work, making sure that all can learn from the experience of the best.

Carbon Trust

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding has been made available to the Carbon Trust in each financial year since its inception; and how much of its budget it has spent.

Elliot Morley: The Carbon Trust was created in April 2001, taking over management of the non-domestic part of the Energy Efficiency Best Practice programme (EEBPp) in July 2002 (which it re-launched as Action Energy) and administration of the Enhanced Capital Allowances programme in August 2002. In this time the Carbon Trust has also formulated its programmes, market research and financial and procurement procedures. In line with their remit the Carbon Trust have constructed and launched new and innovative programmes such as the Low Carbon Innovation Programme (LCIP) in May 2002.
	The Carbon Trust was allocated £26.5 million in 2001–02 by my Department, and a total of £49.6 million for 2002–03 (including £17.1 million from the EEBPp). Carbon Trust spend for 2001–02 was £5.5 million (composed of £3.1 million spend and £2.4 million to enhance the EEBPp). Audited spend figures for 2002–03 are not yet available from the Carbon Trust.

Cetaceans

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the use of separator grids in pair trawls in respect of (a) the incidence of unintended cetacean by-catch, (b) the unintended by-catch of other non-target species, (c) the satisfactory technical efficiency of the equipment in catching target fish and (d) the satisfaction of the fishermen who use this equipment.

Elliot Morley: Further sea trials of the exclusion grid designed to reduce common dolphin by-catch in the offshore fishery-for bass which-takes place in-the Channel were recently completed.
	The scientists responsible at the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at St. Andrews University will require some weeks to produce their full report. However, I should like to give here a preliminary indication of the outcome, in recognition of the widespread interest in this matter.
	The trial was undertaken by SMRU on our behalf at a cost of £100,000 and involved the chartering of a pair trawler for twelve days in March for the deployment of the grid in normal commercial fishing conditions in the SW bass fishery. It formed the second stage of testing this device at sea, the first stage having taken place in 2002. The primary aim was to develop the system further towards the point where it will fish reliably with minimal loss of fish and that any dolphins encountered will be able to escape safely through the grid and out of the net.
	The twelve day charter was completed successfully, using a new camera system enabling day and night real time monitoring of the grid system in use. It was clear that the grid performance improved this year with virtually no loss of fish related to the grid system. This, encouragingly, indicates that the grid system ought to be acceptable not only to UK fishermen but to others countries involved in the pair trawl fishery.
	Contrary to expectation, and in contrast to other boats fishing nearby, no dolphins were seen to approach the grid during the period of the charter. The reasons for this are presently unclear and are being considered by SMRU but it is possible that some aspect of the grid system is acting in some way as a deterrent to dolphins. However, the overall result was a zero mortality rate during the twelve day charter.
	As no dolphins had been encountered during the charter period, the skippers of the vessels—and we are extremely grateful for the co-operation of the skippers and the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association with all aspects of the trial—volunteered to continue using the grid accompanied for most of the time by a SMRU observer. During this extension of the trial two dead dolphins were recovered from the tunnel of the trawl after one particular haul. It is probable that one of these had become trapped in the small mesh cover net over the escape panel. This is disappointing, but the researchers are confident that recurrence of this problem can be prevented by adjustments to the escape panel, as part of the ongoing development of the system.The very significantly reduced mortality rate overall in this trial (2 animals, both caught in the same haul, over seven weeks, and these from causes that are expected to be eliminated) is encouraging when compared with previous years. Two animals died in 82 hauls over a seven week period beginning in March, a significant reduction in what is normally observed to be the case. In observations elsewhere in the fishery without the grid employed, 28 dolphin casualties were recorded in 49 hauls. All this is grounds for optimism that a viable means of minimising dolphin by-catch in this fishery can be attained very soon. A fuller analysis of the data from the trial is now being undertaken which once complete, will form a fuller report of the trial to be published as soon as possible. This will be made available on the Defra website and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
	I am determined on the basis of these results to move forward next year from trialling these measures to actually deploying them in the fishery. I will be discussing how this can be achieved with the industry and whether other adaptations to the fishing gear, such as changes to fishing methods, could also contribute to by-catch reduction. At the same time, however, the general level of by-catch in the south west cannot continue unchecked each year and I do not rule out other options such as closure if effective by-catch reductions cannot be achieved in the short term.
	We will also continue to draw attention to this work among other Member States and continue to press at the EU level for concrete proposals to widen observer coverage of fisheries implicated in by-catch and for effective measures to address this by-catch.

Civil Contingencies

Peter Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional expenditure above that identified prior to 1 April 2002 was spent in 2002–03 on national and regional resilience work for essential services; what additional expenditure above that identified prior to 1 April 2002 will be spent in 2003–04 on national and regional resilience work for essential services; whether arrangements exist to release expenditure during the current financial year for resilience projects under consideration for essential services; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The essential services which emergency and business continuity plans support within my Department have all been met from within allocated budgets. If a re-allocation of budget is required to meet changed needs in these areas then budgets can be reprioritised accordingly.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Peter Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of mapping open countryside and registered common land under the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 has been; what the estimated cost of completing the mapping process is; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: By the end of March the Countryside Agency had spent £13.5 million on implementing part 1 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, mostly on mapping open countryside and registered common land. The figure includes payments to the contractors, Black and Veatch; consultation and dissemination of information on the mapping process; and the Agency's staff and running costs. A further £1.5 million has been spent by the Planning Inspectorate to deal with appeals against the inclusion of land on the provisional maps of open country and registered common land.
	The scale, and therefore the cost, of the remainder of the mapping project will depend on the volume of comments made to the Agency on the three further draft maps and on the number of appeals on the six provisional maps still to be issued.
	The Agency has developed a predictive model to help it plan and manage the mapping work, and it will review the assumptions in this model regularly, in the light of experience in successive mapping areas. The Government and the Agency will work closely together to ensure the completion of the mapping project to timetable.

Departmental Staff

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of regional variations in staff turnover in her Department.

Alun Michael: Data on DEFRA's staff turnover (including regional turnover) are regularly collated and reviewed. This and other relevant information is being used to help formulate the Department's pay and work force strategies, including our approach to regional pay and relocation.
	DEFRA has offices at over 150 locations in England, Scotland and Wales, of which 43 are in London and the south east. The latest provisional figures covering the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003, show that turnover for permanent and casual staff in the Department was 7.2 per cent. Turnover rates were highest at locations in the east of England, north west and west midlands.

Dogs

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the theft and illegal export of dogs from the United Kingdom to (a) Ireland and (b) other European countries.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 May 2003
	The Home Office advise that the theft of property, including dogs, is a crime under the Theft Act 1968 and punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
	On the issue of exportation of dogs, there are currently no harmonised arrangements governing the movement of dogs between Member States of the European Union. Most European countries including Ireland require a health certificate issued by our Local Animal Health Divisional Offices. The certification will vary depending on the specific requirements of the individual Member State receiving the dog.
	Dogs travelling from the UK without the required certification will be accepted back into the UK provided they are accompanied by an official declaration from the intended country of destination stating that the dogs have remained constantly under official supervision and have not come into contact with other animals.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the need for (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation to implement any EU directive regarding the commercialisation of GM crops.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 May 2003
	Primary and secondary legislation fully implementing the UK's European Community obligations on GM products, including crops, is already in place.
	The commercial use of GM crops is subject to Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. Directive 2001/18 entered fully into force on 17 October 2002, replacing and improving upon the framework established by its predecessor, Directive 90/220/EEC.
	In England, Scotland and Wales, the main primary legislation implementing Directive 2001/18 is Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. In Northern Ireland, the Genetically Modified Organisms (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 provides similar powers. The relevant secondary legislation transposing the Directive is:
	in England, the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002 no.2443)
	in Scotland, The Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 (SSI 2002 no.541)
	in Wales, The Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Wales) Regulations 2002 (WSI 2002 no.3188)
	in Northern Ireland, the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (no.167)

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methods and measurements will be used to evaluate the outcome of the GM public debate.

Michael Meacher: The independent Steering Board, set up to manage the GM public debate at arms' length from Government, is responsible for the methods and measurements used to evaluate the outcome of the debate. The Steering Board will be submitting its report on the outcome of the debate to Government in September.

European Working Groups

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list measures under discussion in European Working Groups at which her Department provides the representative from Her Majesty's Government; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The range of measures under discussion in European Council Working Groups at which Defra provides the lead UK representative are summarised as follows:
	Issues relating to greenhouse gas emissions (including mechanism for monitoring emissions); co-generation (combined heat and power); quality of bathing water; regulation of detergents; animal health (controls of foot and mouth); residue levels of pesticides in products of plant and animal origin; issues related to drinking water; a range of issues related to the CFP; review of environmental reporting; infrastructure for spatial information in Europe; waste statistics; FAOs international treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture; Cartagena Protocol on biosafety to the convention on biological diversity; community comparative tests and trials for seeds and propagating material; waste electrical and electronic equipment directive; restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment directive; end of life vehicles directive and the packaging directive; bovine semen; staging points (animal health aspects); trade in live sheep; monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents; Control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents; organic production of agricultural products; work on surveying a sample of ground points and use of remote sensing/weather information to forecast crop harvests; proposal to modify milk statistics provided by Member States.
	In addition to these the Commission's proposal for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy has been discussed in a series of working groups this year at which the Department has provided the lead representative.

Fallen Stock

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects that the payment structure for the national collection scheme for the burying of fallen farm stock will be resolved; where the Government intend to dispose of such animals; and what powers there are to take action against farmers who leave fallen stock outside slaughterhouses in contravention of the regulations.

Elliot Morley: On 17 April we wrote to livestock farmers inviting them to express an interest in participating in a voluntary scheme based on subscription. This would be subsidised by Government digressively over a three year period.
	The initial closing date for responses was 6 May but has been extended to 28 May to give time for more response. We will be looking closely at the number of responses and the type/size of holdings which have expressed an interest in the scheme in order to assess whether it is likely to be viable and how, if deemed viable, the payment structure would be laid down.
	Assuming that the scheme is viable we anticipate that it will take a minimum of three months from the date when the decision is taken on whether to proceed to get the scheme operational.
	Where a carcase is dumped on private land, wherever possible the owner of the animal will be identified and held responsible. However, if ownership cannot be proven, responsibility for disposal rests with the landowner. The local authority, usually Trading Standards, has powers under the statutory nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with
	"accumulations or deposits which are prejudicial to health or a nuisance".
	Appropriate action can subsequently be taken against the owner of the carcase.
	Where a carcase is dumped elsewhere, including on public land or highways, and ownership of the carcase cannot be ascertained, responsibility for disposal rests with the local authority.

Fallen Stock

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the removal of fallen stock from farms (a) following European legislation and (b) in the event that hunting should be banned.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 7 May 2003
	New EU legislation, the Animal By-Products Regulation, applied in Member States from 1 May. Amongst other things the Regulation banned the routine on-farm burial and burning of animal carcases.
	Currently the permitted disposal routes for fallen stock include rendering, incineration, or sending the carcases to an approved knackers yards, hunt kennels or maggot farm.
	The Regulation permits hunt kennels to continue collecting fallen stock. However, they will be required to upgrade to knackers yard standards if they wish to continue collecting fallen stock for the purposes of feeding to hounds.
	We are aware that the ban on burial will increase the cost of disposing of fallen stock and have, since April 2002, been holding discussions with livestock and disposal industry stakeholders with the aim of developing operational arrangements and funding options for a national fallen stock disposal scheme.
	A letter was sent out on 17 April to livestock farmers. This invites them to register an interest in participating in a subscription based scheme for the collection and disposal of fallen stock. This has the full backing of the Farming Unions.
	The closing date for responses was 6 May. The future viability of the scheme will be dependent on the number of responses and the type/size of holdings which have expressed an interest in the scheme.
	Assuming that the scheme is viable we anticipate that it will take a minimum of three months from the date when the decision is taken on whether to proceed to get the scheme operational.
	A ban on hunting with hounds could have implications for the disposal and humane slaughter of fallen stock in some areas but by no means all. Those farmers who currently use the fallen stock service provided by hunts could be faced with additional costs if they use knackers yards or other off-farm disposal routes. However, there is a demand for this service. Most hunts already make a charge and there is no reason why such a service should not continue as a business opportunity should hunts be banned.

Fallen Stock

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether advice on the disposal of fallen stock was made available to farmers in Worcestershire before Easter; and if she will place a copy of the advice in the Library.

Elliot Morley: On 17 April we wrote to livestock farmers, including those in Worcestershire, regarding the new rules on the disposal of fallen stock. A copy of the fallen stock letter is available in the Library.
	Information on the disposal of animal carcases is also available on the Defra website, at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bv-prods/default.htm., and from local Defra Animal Health Offices.

Fallen Stock

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on how Miss Isobel Vaughan Morgan of Warren Crest Farm, Finchampstead, a constituent, can dispose of fallen stock prior to the introduction of a national collection scheme.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 May 2003
	Farmers will have to dispose of fallen stock in accordance with the Regulation, other than by burial or open burning. Currently the permitted disposal routes for fallen stock include rendering, incineration, or sending the carcases to approved knackers' yards, hunt kennels or maggot farms.
	If the right hon. Member's constituent does not know who provides this service in their area they can ring the Fallen Stock helpline on 0845 8507070 for advice.
	Additional information on the disposal of animal carcases is also available on the Defra website, at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/by-prods/default.htm., and from local Defra Animal Health Offices.

Farm Bureaucracy

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to improve the speed of IACS payments; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency makes IACS payments and is currently engaged in a programme which will modernise IT systems and working practices to enable more efficient use of resources and reduce bureaucracy for farmers and for Government. Good progress is being made and the first stage for land based IACS schemes is due to be delivered early next year. This will result in improved payment performance.
	In the meantime RPA is making every effort to maintain performance on existing legacy systems. For 2002, the bulk of the Arable Area Payments and Sheep Annual Premium Payments were paid in record time. On the other hand the RPA has experienced difficulties with Bovine payments mainly as a result of complex regulatory changes.

Farm Bureaucracy

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce the duplication of data required from farmers for payment; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency which is responsible for payments to farmers, is currently engaged in a programme of developments to modernise the systems for administering payments to farmers. The first stage is due for delivery next year and the full programme will be implemented by 2005. The new e-enabled systems will include a number of features designed to reduce duplication of data collected from farmers. The programme is progressing well.

Farmers

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the issues raised most often in correspondence to her from farmers in the last three months, with the numbers of pieces of correspondence in each case.

Alun Michael: Records of correspondence from individual members of the public are not held centrally. Such letters are sent to relevant Divisions in the Department for them to answer direct. Letters from Members on behalf of constituents are recorded on the ministerial correspondence database by Member, date and constituent name. We do not record the occupation of the constituent.
	The Department receives a large postbag on a range of issues across its responsibilities.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on current estimates of fishers' compensation claims pursuant to the latest restrictions as set out by the Fisheries Council in December 2002.

Elliot Morley: I appreciate the fishing industry's concern that their earnings have been affected by the limits on time at sea. The way to promote better viability for fishing operations is to bring the size of the fleet and fish stocks into better balance.

Flooding (North Shropshire)

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision there is to provide support to (a) home owners, (b) farmers and (c) businesses whose properties have been, or may in the future be, subject to flooding in the North Shropshire constituency.

Elliot Morley: The Government are committed to the effective management of flood and coastal erosion risk and have increased funding in all three spending reviews. Following autumn 2000 floods, i.e. between 2000–01 and 2005–06, total expenditure is expected to increase from £328.5 million to £564.2 million an increase of £236 million in cash terms. The Government plan to spend approximately £1.5 billion over the next three years.
	The Environment Agency provide the public with timely warnings in order that they may be prepared in the event of a flood. In recent years flood warning has been improved, and there is now a flood watch area covering most of North Shropshire and four flood warning areas covering the River Severn from Shrawradine to Coalport.
	The emergency response to flooding falls primarily to local authorities and emergency plans have been checked and amended and liaison arrangements between the Agency, local authorities and emergency services have been improved.
	The Government do offer other support in instances of flooding:
	In cases of genuine hardship, help may be available from the social fund; details are available from Benefits Agency offices.
	Properties that are vacant while being repaired or refurbished after flooding are generally exempt from council tax, although the tax may be payable on any temporary accommodation.
	Local Authorities receive Civil Defence Grants to help fund, for instance, reception and rest centres for evacuated families. Local authorities would be required under homelessness legislation to provide long-term accommodation to flood victims.
	The Government have in the past made Ministry of Defence housing available.
	Defra may be able to achieve some flexibility in the rules of various farm schemes (e.g. adjustments to allow farmers to enter flooded land into the set-aside scheme).
	A joint Environment Agency, Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) and Building Research Establishment (BRE) website provides advice on restoration and repair of flooded property. In particular, this provides guidance on appropriate flood-resistance materials, such as special plasters and building plastics.
	Flood insurance is widely available and provides a range of cover.

Food from Britain

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) representations she has received from and (b) consultations she has held with small and medium sized food (i) producers and (ii) exporters concerning the allocation of the recently announced additional funding for Food from Britain.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 May 2003
	The additional funding for Food from Britain is intended to help implement Defra's regional food strategy. That strategy was drawn up and agreed in a series of meetings between the department and key stakeholders and forms part of the Government's Sustainable Food and Farming Strategy (SFFS) launched in December 2002. In drawing up the SFFS we took as our evidence-base the work of the Curry Commission, the submissions which we received from over 1,000 organisations that we consulted on taking forward its conclusions and the views of those people who joined in our regional roadshows.

Food from Britain

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the additional funding for Food from Britain will be spent on (a) personnel, (b) training, (c) members' services and (d) press relations; and if she will provide a breakdown of spending in other categories.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 May 2003
	Food from Britain will receive an additional £1 million this year for the promotion of English regional food and drink. This is in addition to the £260,000 they already receive. The provisional breakdown of the combined allocation (rounded to the nearest thousand pounds) is:
	(a) and (b) £45,000 for Food from Britain personnel and their training needs;
	(c) none (Fast Track members' services are concerned with export promotion only);
	(d) £42,000 for public relations.
	The provisional breakdown for the remainder of the allocation is:
	national trade development activities (e.g. trade shows, meet the buyer events, regional food directories) £133,000;
	consumer awareness (e.g. national consumer food shows; national regional food tourism portal and guides) £155,000;
	business competitiveness (e.g. export guides, benchmarking) £15,000;
	Eat the View initiative £150,000; and
	delivery of regional projects to support FFB's national programme £720,000 (£90,000 for each region).

Food from Britain

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether small and medium sized food and drink (a) producers and (b) exporters must become members of Food from Britain to receive support from her Department.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 May 2003
	No.

Food from Britain

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will provide support for British Food Fortnight.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 May 2003
	The Government's Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy recognises the need to help farmers and regional food and drink producers add more value by reconnecting with customers and the rest of the food chain. The additional money being made available to Food from Britain to support the quality regional food sector is intended to help address this need. These objectives chime well with those of British Food Fortnight, but direct Government aid to the latter could conflict with our obligations under Article 28 of the EC Treaty not to distort competition by favouring products because of their national origin.

Food Imports

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the volume of food imports into the United Kingdom from member states of the European Union.

Elliot Morley: The following table shows the volume of food from member states of the European Union, imports into the United Kingdom 2000–02.
	
		Thousand tonnes
		
			 Description 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Vegetables and fruit 4,438 5,533 5,749 
			 Cereals and cereal preparations 2,503 2,973 3,151 
			 Beverages 1,874 2,047 2,293  
			 Feeding stuff for animals (excl. unmilled cereals) 1,398 1,499 1,299 
			 Meat and meat preparations 1,150 1,176 1,270 
			 Dairy products and birds' eggs 762 791 779 
			 Sugars, sugar preparations and honey 612 806 664 
			 Fixed vegetable fats and oils 678 622 556 
			 Miscellaneous edible products 619 552 611 
			 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits 328 541 337 
			 Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices etc. 275 283 309 
			 Fish and fish preparations 134 148 154 
			 Animal and vegetable fats and oils 125 132 122 
			 Animal oils and fats 102 102 103 
			 EU total 14,999 17,207 17,398 
		
	
	Note:
	2002 data are provisional and subject to amendment
	Source:
	HM Customs & Excise
	Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities and Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, DEFRA

Food Imports

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has allocated to tackling illegal food imports in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02, (c) 2002–03, (d) 2003–04, (e) 2004–05 and (f) 2005–06, broken down by category of activity.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 May 2003
	In 2000–01 and 2001–02, illegal imports work was dealt with within the resources allocated to import controls on products of animal origin generally. Approximately £3 million was spent in 2002–03. A total programme budget of £25 million has been set aside for the years 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06. £6 million of this will be spent this financial year, of which £4 million has been allocated to HM Customs to fund enforcement activity and publicity at the borders, and £1.5 million has been allocated to the Food Standards Agency to lead work on a step change to improve co-ordination and co-operation across legal import routes. The remainder has been allocated to Defra to implement other aspects of the action plan, including further publicity. No decisions have yet been made on allocations for 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Food Industry

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps (a) her Department, (b) executive agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department are taking to improve the competitiveness of small and medium sized food and drink (i) producers and (ii) exporters.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 May 2003
	Various measures which have the potential to help small and medium sized food and drink producers increase competitiveness are set out in the Government's Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy, published in December 2002. These include the new Food Chain Centre, which is looking at ways to improve the efficiency of the food chain, and English Farming and Food Partnerships, which will support and promote co-operation and collaboration between farmers, and between farmers and the food chain. In addition, Food from Britain is undertaking a national support programme, which includes measures to increase competitiveness, for small and medium sized quality regional food producers.
	On the export side, the Department continues to provide grant aid to Food from Britain to carry out promotion of exports of food and drink: at least 50 per cent. of producers assisted must be SMEs.
	Through its Eat the View initiative the Countryside Agency is working in partnership with a wide range of organisations to encourage consumers to make the link between the food they eat and the countryside, thus encouraging demand for locally sourced food and drink typically supplied by small and medium producers. Most projects within the initiative will assist SMEs to improve their competitiveness.
	In addition the Home Grown Cereals Authority is working closely with all parts of the grain chain to improve the competitiveness of the UK arable industry both at home and overseas. The Meat and Livestock Commission works almost wholly with SMEs to improve efficiency by providing information and advice on breeding techniques, reducing production costs and improving marketing strategies, and by facilitating links between producers and the major supermarkets.
	Small and medium sized food and drink producers are also eligible to apply for grants under various schemes for projects that may contribute to improving their competitiveness.

Great British Kitchen

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department will give financial support to the British Food Trust for the creation of the Great British Kitchen.

Elliot Morley: Defra officials have discussed this issue several times with representatives of the British Food Trust, and have concluded that in its current form the project is not eligible for any of the current funding schemes. However, we are happy to continue the constructive dialogue we have had with the British Food Trust to explore other ways in which we can help.

Marsh Birds

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to protect the bittern in England; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The bittern is one of the 391 species for which action plans have been prepared as part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP). The plan sets objectives and targets for the conservation and enhancement of the species. Reports in 2002 on progress with the plan show that targets to increase the range and numbers of the bittern are being achieved. A survey by the RSPB in 2002 recorded a total of 31 booming males in England, almost double the number recorded in 1994. Plans to secure the long term future of the bittern by providing suitable reedbed habitat are also showing progress. In England, 800 hectares of new reedbed have been created since 1995 and the active management of existing reedbeds is improving.
	In October 2002 the Government published 'Working with the Grain of Nature—A Biodiversity Strategy for England'. The strategy takes an holistic approach to the conservation of biodiversity within England and is a key means by which the UK BAP will be taken forward in England. It sets out a series of actions for the key sectors which impact on biodiversity, including water and wetlands.

Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the results were of the latest research by the Environment Agency into the incidence of methyl tertiary butyl ether in England and Wales; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the results were of the full life cycle risk assessment of methyl tertiary butyl ether under the European Communities Existing Substances Regulation (793/93/EEC); and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Finland carried out the full life cycle risk assessment of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) under the Existing Substances Regulation (793/93/EEC). All Member States were represented in the group of technical experts and the Competent Authority for existing substances that discussed and finalised the risk assessment for MTBE.
	The risk assessment concluded that there were concerns for the aquatic environment and groundwater (potability in respect of taste and odour) as a consequence of exposure arising from the release of MTBE to surface water from leaking storage tanks and spillage from over filling of the storage tanks.
	The Environment Agency is looking to improve our groundwater quality by the monitoring of oxygenates including MTBE where this is merited by risk of contamination.
	The occupational risk identified is controlled to the extent needed by legislation currently in force at Community level.
	The Environment Agency's review on the presence and behaviour of MTBE in England and Wales was published in November 2000 and a copy was deposited in the Library of the House at the time. The Environment Agency intends to produce a short follow-up report on MTBE incidence but it will take a little time to compile. A copy will be made available to the Library of the House as soon as possible. I will write to let my hon. Friend know when that is.

New Forest

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of proposals in the mid-term review in respect of commoning in the New Forest; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The impact of the CAP reform proposals on commoning will be complex and depend in large part on the detail of their implementation. This is particularly true of the proposal to decouple agricultural support from production. Our objective will be to create a workable system which allows existing commoning systems to continue.

Otter Population

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with (a) environmental and wildlife groups and (b) fish farmers and their representative groups regarding the otter population in England; what steps she is taking to protect the otter population in England; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Otter is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the EU Habitats Directive.
	The Government strongly supports the UK Biodiversity Action Plan target to maintain and expand existing otter populations and restore breeding otters to all catchments and coastal areas where they have been recorded since 1960.
	The Environment Agency and the Wildlife Trusts are the lead partners in pursuing these biodiversity targets. The Environment Agency published the Fourth Otter Survey of England (2000–2002) on Monday 12 May. This confirmed that the increase in otter distribution observed since the first survey in 1977–1979 is continuing. Every one of the 12 regions and catchments into which England was divided for the survey, shows an increase in the positive sites. Otters were present on 73 per cent. of the Local Environment Agency Plan areas surveyed. An increase in otter distribution cannot be directly translated into an increase in otter numbers but such a significant increase in the distribution represents a significant increase in the number of otters on England's rivers and waterways. Full details of the survey can be found at http://www.environment-agency.qov.uk./
	My Department and the Environment Agency have had discussions with the Specialist Anglers Alliance on the recovery of otter populations and their concerns about the effects on carp fisheries.

Over Thirty Month Scheme

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received about phasing in the over-thirty month scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement on 9 April 2003, Official Report, column 19WS. Officials have held an initial meeting with core stakeholders on 28 April. Future market prospects for over thirty months beef and options for the future of the OTMS were discussed. It was agreed that additional work on market forecasts should be carried out. A further meeting is being arranged.

Rural Transport Schemes

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many rural transport schemes have been funded by the Government in each of the last five years, with the amounts given; and how many have been earmarked funding for the next two financial years, with the amounts given.

Alun Michael: pursuant to his reply, 13 May 2003, c. 150W.
	The figures provided for the Rural Transport Partnership and Parish Transport Grant for the period 2001–02 and 2002–03 were funds allocated to these programmes, as opposed to amounts spent. I have amended my answer in the following table. In addition, the Countryside Agency also spent £2.7 million over the period 2001–02 to 2002–03 promoting the Rural Transport Partnership and developing guidance. £1.3 million was spent over the same period on promoting and developing guidance for the Parish Transport Grant. The rest of the answer remains correct.
	
		
			  Rural Transport Development Fund Rural Transport Partnership(5) Parish Transport Grant Rural Bus Challenge(6) 
			 Year Number Funding (£ million) Number Funding  (£ million) Number Funding (£ million) Number Funding (£ million) 
		
		
			 1998–99 n/a 1.6 n/a 4.2 — — 46 11.2 
			 1999–2000 n/a 1.6 n/a 4.2 — — 58 16.8 
			 2000–01 n/a 1.6 n/a 4.2 — — 51 21.2 
			 2001–02 — — 278 7.1 40 0.4 58 20.5 
			 2002–03 — — 350 13.2 116 0.9 46 20.2 
			 2003–04 — — (7)350 (7)12.0 (7)200 8.0 (8)— (8)— 
			 2004–05 — — (7)350 (7)12.0 (7)300 7.0 (8)— (8)— 
		
	
	(5) Prior to 2001–02 this was called the Rural Transport Partnership Scheme.
	(6) The Rural Bus Challenge is an annual competition and the level of funding refers to the total award granted to successful bids.
	(7) Budget and project targets in the Countryside Agency Business Plan.
	(8) DfT will announce a further round of the Challenge fund later this year.

Sheep Farmers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to investigate how UK sheep farmers can move voluntarily away from live exports without it being detrimental to them economically.

Elliot Morley: The marketing of sheep and sheepmeat is a matter for all the players in the red meat supply chain. Many sheep producers take the view that the live export trade is unnecessary. The Government are working with industry through the Red Meat Industry Forum to help improve competitiveness and this includes, among other things, benchmarking for sheep producers and issues relating to the marketing of sheepmeat.

T3327

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what trials her Department is undertaking with the wild animal poison known as T3327 on property in the Government's ownership in Scotland; what the ingredients of the poison are; for how long such trials have been running; how many non-target animals, including protected and domestic animals, have been poisoned during the study; and how many foxes have been poisoned.

Elliot Morley: Defra funds an on-going programme of research into methods of combating outbreaks of rabies in wildlife. The Animal Health Act (1981) permits the use, in a rabies outbreak, of poisonous baits to control foxes and other wild vectors of rabies. T3327 is a carbamate compound akin to a number of approved agricultural pesticides. It was developed with a view to finding a more biodegradable, humane and effective poison for use, if absolutely necessary, in a rabies emergency. In September 2002 poison baits were laid for three days during a strictly controlled five-week trial in a 14km 2 area in the MoD's Dundrennan Ranges in Scotland. Further field trials of T3327 are not planned. Exact numbers of animals killed during the trial are not known, as some will have died underground but six foxes and 11 badgers were found dead. There was no evidence that other species, wild or domestic, had been poisoned.

Waste Management

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by England on the collection and management of (a) household and (b) municipal waste in each year since 1997–98; and what figures she has collated on the amount spent by (i) Northern Ireland, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales in each of those years prior to devolution.

Michael Meacher: The following figures show net revenue expenditure on municipal waste collection and disposal in England since 1997–98 to date, and in Scotland and Wales prior to devolution. Data are not available on the separate costs of household and municipal waste. The figures include income received in respect of charges to outside organisations. Data for Northern Ireland are not held centrally.
	
		Waste Collection and Disposal
		
			 Year England(9) (£m) Scotland(10) (£) Wales(11) (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,198.9 149.9 72.8 
			 1998–99 1,281.9 148 75.8 
			 1999–2000 1,423.3   
			 2000–01 1,521.3   
			 2001–02 1,653.9   
			 2002–03 (Budget) 1,818.9   
		
	
	(9) 1997–98 to 2001–02 outturn figures are taken from local authority returns on expenditure (RO6 forms) and for 2002–03 planned expenditure (RA02 form).
	(10) Data provided by SERAD, reported by local authorities.
	(11) Data provided by NAWAD, from archive publications

Waste Management

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the review commissioned by DEFRA into the environmental and health effects of waste management and disposal options will include home composting.

Michael Meacher: The review of the health and environmental effects of waste management and disposal options will include in-vessel and windrow composting of municipal solid waste.
	This review will not consider home composting because the review is focussing on options for the management and disposal of municipal waste for which local authorities are responsible.

Waste Management

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the time scale is for her Department's review of the practicalities of operating variable charging schemes for waste collection.

Michael Meacher: As set out in the Government's response to the Strategy Unit report 'Waste not, Want not', the Government will be carrying out further work before any decision is taken to enable local authorities to implement direct or variable charging for waste. The work will be carried out in co-operation with the Local Government Association and other stakeholders and will start this summer thus enabling Government to review its position on this in 2004.

Waste Management

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the cost of introducing a zero waste strategy.

Michael Meacher: No assessment has been made of the cost of introducing a zero waste policy. Our priority set out in Waste Strategy 2000, is to meet our obligations under the Landfill Directive to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste to 75 per cent. of 1995 levels by 2010, 50 per cent. by 2013 and 35 per cent. by 2020, using the maximum four-year derogation as necessary.
	Although these targets do not constitute a zero waste policy (either zero waste to landfill, or a totally closed resource cycle), they do demand substantial waste minimisation, and significantly increased levels of re-use and recycling. Waste Strategy 2000 and Government's forthcoming response to the Strategy Unit Report "Waste Not, Want Not," set out how we intend to bring this about.

Waste Management

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the cost of introducing a zero waste strategy; and what definition the Government uses of incineration in terms of the disposal of waste.

Michael Meacher: No assessment has been made of the cost of introducing a zero waste strategy. Government's priorities for sustainable waste management in England and Wales are set out in "Waste Strategy 2000". The Government's forthcoming response to the Strategy Unit Report "Waste Not, Want Not", will also identify further steps to be taken to-help deliver our priorities and targets.
	Although Waste Strategy 2000 is not a zero waste strategy (either zero waste to landfill, or a totally closed resource cycle), it does demand substantial waste minimisation, and significantly increased levels of re-use and recycling.
	The definition of incineration as it relates to the disposal of waste, in the glossary of terms in "Waste Strategy 2000" is as follows:
	"Incineration—is the controlled burning of waste, either to reduce its volume, or its toxicity. Energy recovery from incineration can be made by utilising the calorific value of paper, plastic, etc to produce heat or power."

Waste Management

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives local authorities can introduce to encourage the reduction of waste from domestic households.

Michael Meacher: The Strategy Unit report "Waste not, Want not" suggested that household incentive schemes that local authorities might wish to introduce could include council tax discounts for households that home compost; provide rewards or prizes for those that recycle; provide a mixture of free services with charges for special services; or introduce variable charging schemes with a reduction in council tax.
	Local authorities already have powers to introduce the first two of these suggestions. They also have powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 to charge householders for the collection of specified items of heavy and bulky waste and garden waste.

Waste Management

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funds will be available for the Sustainable Waste Management Legacy Fund for 2003; and how much ENTRUST will receive to administer the transition fund.

Michael Meacher: The latest estimate is that around £19 million will be distributed to eligible applicants under the LTCS Sustainable Waste Management Legacy Fund. To administer the fund, ENTRUST is receiving a fee of 2 per cent. of whatever funds are distributed (i.e. if the Fund distributes £20 million to eligible applicants, the administration fee received will be £400,000). This is the same level of payment that ENTRUST receives to regulate the LTCS itself on behalf of HM Customs and Excise and represents good value for money.

Waste Management

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects decisions on allocating transitional funding from the Sustainable Waste Management Legacy Fund to be completed.

Michael Meacher: The aim is to complete all outstanding work on the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (LTCS) Sustainable Waste Management Legacy Fund, by 23 May.

Water and Sewage

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which environmental enhancements agreed for the current periodic review of water and sewage prices have been achieved by each water and sewage company in England; and which will (a) be achieved and (b) not be achieved within the agreed time scale in each case.

Elliot Morley: The tables needed to answer this question have been prepared by the Environment Agency and placed in the House Library. They show for each water and water and sewerage undertaker, the numbers of schemes delivering improvements to the environment whose completion during 2000–05 was expected by the Director General of Water Services (Ofwat) when he set price limits for that period. The tables also show the numbers completed by 1 April 2002 and the number that remain to be completed, taking account of adjustments agreed since the programme was determined in 1999.
	It is not yet possible to say which, if any, of the outstanding schemes will not be completed within the time scale agreed.

Water and Sewage

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the compatibility of the provisions of the Water Bill with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive;
	(2)  if she will make it her policy to implement the provisions of the Water Framework Directive by primary legislation;
	(3)  what provisions contained in the Water Bill are intended to implement requirements of the Water Framework Directive.

Elliot Morley: The Water Bill is not, and has never been, intended to transpose the Water Framework Directive.
	Our intention is to give effect to the Directive through secondary legislation under the European Communities Act 1972. Many of the necessary powers needed to comply with the Directive already exist. We have consulted widely on our proposals to transpose the Directive and will continue to do so. Much of the existing legislative framework for water resources in England will implement the Directive, for example, controls over the abstraction of fresh surface water and ground water and impoundment of fresh surface water, including a register or registers of water abstractions.
	Some provisions in the Water Bill will help implement some of the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, in particular articles 11(3)(c) and (e). These elements were planned after the Government published "Taking Water Responsibly" in March 1999, which suggested updating the framework for abstraction licensing to improve water resource management.
	The Water Bill will help implement Article 11(3)(c) by placing water undertakers under an enforceable duty to conserve water in carrying out their functions. The licensing requirements of the Water Resources Act 1991 largely implement Article 11(3)(e) already, and proposals in the Bill are consistent with that.

Wild Mammals

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will place in the Library copies of the licences her Department has issued for traps to catch and kill wild mammals that are in force;
	(2)  if she will publish performance data on each trap for catching and killing wild mammals that has been tested and licensed by her Department;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the compatibility of the standards applied by her Department and its predecessor to traps for catching and killing wild mammals as licensed by her Department with the International Trapping Standards; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  whether she has assessed the compliance of traps used to catch and kill wild mammals for which a license is not necessary with (a) the criteria her Department applies to licensed traps and (b) the International Trapping Standards;
	(5)  when her Department most recently carried out tests on traps used to catch and kill wild mammals licensed by her Department; what the purpose of such tests were; where the tests were conducted; what criteria were applied in assessing the results of these tests; and if she will place in the Library details of the conduct of these tests.

Elliot Morley: All traps must be submitted for approval and are tested for humaneness and efficacy by experts. Traps are approved by Orders made under The Pests Act 1954 which specify the traps that may be used, the manner of use and the species against which the trap may be used. The conditions of any approval are designed to ensure humane and selective operation. The use of unapproved spring traps has been prohibited in England and Wales since 1958. Spring traps specified by the Department as being adapted solely for the destruction of rats, mice or other small ground vermin, and for moles are exempted under the Small Ground Vermin Trap Order 1958.
	Particulars of the approvals given for traps to catch and kill wild mammals are detailed in the Spring Traps Approval Order. This is submitted to Parliament on a periodic basis, depending on the submission of traps, and lists all traps, manufacturers and terms of approved use at that time. Some further minor changes to this list (such as changes to a manufacturers trading details) were published by way of a MAFF press release dated February 1997. The performance of design is commercially confidential. Non disclosure of such commercial information is in accordance with Reg. 4(2)(e) of the Environmental Information Regulations.
	The Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards: http://www3.oup.co.uk/envlaw/hdb/Volume 12/Issue 03/supp data/harrop supp.pdf has been agreed by the European Commission, Canada and the Russian Federation but has yet to be enacted by the member states of the EU. As presently proposed, this agreement only applies to fur-bearing species. The only species currently listed in this agreement that occur in Britain are the otter, badger, pine marten and stoat, although additional species will be added in future. These species receive protection under The Badger Act 1992 and The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and, with the exception of the stoat, may not be trapped without a licence. The current testing procedures proposed within Annex 1 of the Agreement have been carried out on new traps since 1992. However, as this agreement has not yet been enacted, approval of such traps has been made on the basis that they are, at least, as humane as traps already approved for the same target species. This is only an interim arrangement. The Department will shortly attend an expert working group meeting on the implementation of humane trapping standards in the EU. This will offer an opportunity to discuss how the agreement might best be enacted and implemented in the UK. The enactment of the Agreement would require traps approved using earlier criteria to be retested and reapproved as appropriate.
	Trap testing is conducted on a regular and ongoing basis as new trap designs are submitted for approvals by commercial companies. I am not prepared to discuss details in view of security considerations.

Zimbabwe

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the level of agricultural (a) imports from and (b) exports to Zimbabwe in 2002; and what proportion were connected to sequestered farms.

Elliot Morley: The following table shows the level of agricultural (a) imports and (b) exports to Zimbabwe in 2002.
	
		2002
		
			  Tonnes £000 
		
		
			 Total imports 46,545 24,127 
			 Total exports 280 701 
		
	
	Crown copyright
	Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities and Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, DEFRA
	Source:
	HM Customs & Excise
	There is no information available on what proportion of these figures were connected to sequestered farms.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002–03.

Patricia Hewitt: Total costs to the DTI for accountancy services are detailed in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  Accounts services provision(12) PFI agreement(13) System upgrade(14) Services to internal audit(15) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 2 0.5 0 0.4 
			 2000–01 2 1.1 0 0.4 
			 2001–02 2 1.4 0 0.4 
			 2002–03 2.7 1.4 5 0.4 
		
	
	(12) The Department entered into a new contract for the provision of accounts services with Amey plc, effective from 1 April 2002. The contract covers a 12-year period with a break option at seven years, and covers a number of additional services not provided under the previous contract.
	(13) The Department entered into a PFI agreement to maintain current hardware to support accounts services provision.
	(14) The Department also commissioned the development of an updated financial accounting system, forecast to cost a total of £7.5 million.
	(15) Internal audit services to the Department are delivered under a strategic partnership arrangement with Ernst and Young.

African Trade

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value is at current prices of United Kingdom (a) exports to and (b) imports from Africa in each of the last 20 years; and what percentage of (i) UK and (ii) world trade UK trade with Africa constitute in each of these years.

Patricia Hewitt: Table 1 shows the value of UK exports to Africa and imports from Africa between 1983 and 2002, in current prices. Table 2 shows UK trade with Africa as a percentage of UK trade. Table 3 shows UK trade with Africa as a percentage of world trade with Africa and Table 4 shows UK trade with Africa as a percentage of total world trade. All the figures refer to the trade in goods only.
	
		Table 1: Value of UK trade with Africa -- £ million (current prices)
		
			  UK exports UK imports 
		
		
			 1983 3,881 2,773 
			 1984 4,097 3,311 
			 1985 4,196 3,913 
			 1986 3,382 2,722 
			 1987 3,335 2,272 
			 1988 3,355 2,395 
			 1989 3,377 2,556 
			 1990 3,677 3,010 
			 1991 3,632 2,727 
			 1992 3,589 2,688 
			 1993 3,923 2,895 
			 1994 4,056 3,084 
			 1995 4,723 3,492 
			 1996 4,997 3,895 
			 1997 4,948 3,841 
			 1998 4,700 3,843 
			 1999 4,345 4,276 
			 2000 4,562 5,858 
			 2001 4,816 7,102 
			 2002 4,829 6,910 
		
	
	Source:
	HM Customs & Excise
	
		Table 2: Africa's share of the UK's total trade
		
			  Percentage of UK exports going to Africa Percentage of UK imports from Africa 
		
		
			 1983 6.4 4.2 
			 1984 5.8 4.2 
			 1985 5.4 4.6 
			 1986 4.6 3.2 
			 1987 4.2 2.4 
			 1988 4.1 2.2 
			 1989 3.6 2.1 
			 1990 3.5 2.4 
			 1991 3.5 2.3 
			 1992 3.3 2.1 
			 1993 3.2 2.1 
			 1994 3.0 2.1 
			 1995 3.1 2.1 
			 1996 3.0 2.1 
			 1997 2.9 2.0 
			 1998 2.9 2.0 
			 1999 2.6 2.2 
			 2000 2.4 2.6 
			 2001 2.5 3.1 
			 2002 2.6 3.0 
		
	
	Source:
	HM Customs & Excise
	
		Table 3: UK Trade with Africa as a share of world trade with Africa
		
			  Percentage of world exports to Africawhich are from the UK Percentage of world imports from Africa which go to the UK 
		
		
			 1983 7.8 5.6 
			 1984 7.4 5.5 
			 1985 7.9 5.9 
			 1986 7.3 6.6 
			 1987 7.5 5.2 
			 1988 7.4 5.8 
			 1989 6.9 5.1 
			 1990 6.9 5.5 
			 1991 6.8 5.2 
			 1992 6.1 4.8 
			 1993 6.2 5.0 
			 1994 6.4 5.0 
			 1995 6.2 5.1 
			 1996 6.5 4.9 
			 1997 6.6 4.9 
			 1998 6.1 5.6 
			 1999 5.7 5.9 
			 2000 5.3 5.8 
			 2001 5.2 6.9 
			 2002 n/a n/a 
		
	
	Source:
	IMF Direction of Trade
	
		Table 4: UK trade with Africa as a share of total world trade
		
			  Percentage of world exports to Africawhich are from the UK Percentage of world imports from Africa which go to the UK 
		
		
			 1983 0.33 0.22 
			 1984 0.29 0.22 
			 1985 0.28 0.24 
			 1986 0.23 0.20 
			 1987 0.22 0.14 
			 1988 0.21 0.15 
			 1989 0.18 0.13 
			 1990 0.18 0.15 
			 1991 0.17 0.13 
			 1992 0.15 0.11 
			 1993 0.15 0.11 
			 1994 0.14 0.10 
			 1995 0.14 0.10 
			 1996 0.14 0.11 
			 1997 0.14 0.11 
			 1998 0.14 0.11 
			 1999 0.12 0.12 
			 2000 0.10 0.13 
			 2001 0.11 0.16 
			 2002 n/a n/a 
		
	
	Source:
	IMF Direction of Trade

Age Discrimination

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Department has to accord people aged over 65 the same level of employment rights as those aged under 65.

Alan Johnson: The great majority of employment protection legislation already applies to older workers, whatever their age. We intend to review upper age limits on statutory redundancy payments and general unfair dismissal claims in the light of responses to the next public consultation on age discrimination, due to be launched this summer.

Annual Leave

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to increase the minimum number of annual leave days.

Alan Johnson: The Government have no plans to increase the minimum number of annual leave days.

Broadband

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many broadband users there were, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) regions in England and Wales; and what percentage of the population this represented, in the last month for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 May 2003
	According to Oftel, at the end of April 2003 there were around 1,915,000 broadband users throughout the UK. This represents about 7 per cent. of households in the UK. These data are not available for each local authority area, neither for English or Welsh regions.

Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations the department has received on support for the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation.

Brian Wilson: The Department has received 105 written representations in support of the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation since the beginning of April this year.

Criminal Offences

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list, broken down by Act, the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by her Department since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 8 May 2003
	The information sought is summarised in a table, which has been placed in the Library.

Deregulation

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what deregulation measures have been identified and implemented within her Department since February 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 12 May 2003
	The Government published their Regulatory Reform Action Plan in February 2002 to which the Department contributed 25 measures for reform. To date the department has delivered on 13 of its commitments and work is continuing on the remainder and to identify further reforms.

E-Government Projects

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list by project the consultancies her Department and its non-departmental public bodies have used on e-government projects since 1st January 2001.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 16 May 2003
	Based on centrally-held records, the following e-government consultancies have been used within the core department since 1st January 2001.
	
		
			 Project Consultancy 
		
		
			 Business Support Review Cap Gemini Ernst and Young 
			 Government Gateway Scoping Study Unitas consortium 
			 Government Gateway Guidelines Unitas consortium 
			 E-procurement Kermon/Xansa 
			 British Trade International e-government programme Cathedral consortium (2 assignments) 
			 Small Business Service customer relationship management programme Yale consulting 
			 'business gov' programme Cathedral consortium 
			 Electronic services to mobile phones proof of concept IMB 
			 Scoping study into DTI customer relationship management Unitas consortium 
			 Enhancements to DTI customer relationship management programme Parity 
			 Consumer Direct consumer helpline pilots evaluation Compass Partnership 
			 Consumer Direct project planning and implementation Sophron 
		
	
	These records do not cover the department's non-departmental public bodies and gathering the information from them would incur disproportionate cost.

Employment Tribunals

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  in how many cases those served witness orders failed to attend the employment tribunal in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland in 2002;
	(2)  how many witness orders were made by employment tribunals in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland in 2002;
	(3)  how many individuals who failed to attend an employment tribunal following being served a witness order (a) faced proceedings under Section 7(4) of the Industrial Tribunals Act 1996 and (b) were convicted of an offence under Section 7(4) of the Industrial Tribunals Act 1996 in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Scotland in 2002.

Alan Johnson: The Employment Tribunals Service does not record centrally the number of witness orders made in relation to Tribunal proceedings. Accordingly, we are unable to supply the requested information.

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list (a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU Scientific and Technical Research Committee, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House.

Patricia Hewitt: The Scientific and Technical Research Committee (CREST) is attended by officials from the Office of Science and Technology.
	CREST has met on eight occasions since January 2002:
	282nd CREST, 24 to 27 March 2002;
	283rd CREST, 24 May 2002;
	284th CREST, 5 July 2002;
	285th CREST, 12 to 13 September 2002;
	286th CREST, 23 October 2002;
	286th CREST, 18 October 2005;
	287th CREST, 14 January 2003; and
	288th CREST, 27–28 March 2003.
	During these meetings, CREST received updates on European Research and Technological Development (RTD) policy from the Commission and Presidency. In addition, it covered a range of other issues including:
	the proposed content, evaluation and monitoring of Framework Programme 6;
	improving the networking, benchmarking, evaluation and monitoring of national RTD policies;
	Commission communications on "More Research for Europe: Towards 3 per cent. of GDP" and "The Role of the Universities in the Europe of Knowledge";
	Commission Science and Society Action Plan;
	European Research Area (ERA) strategy;
	developing European foresight activities to strengthen the strategic basis of ERA;
	regional dimension of research policy;
	Commission Mobility Action Plan;
	European Union Research Advisory Board (EURAB); and
	Annual Report on the EU research activities for 2001.
	As noted in my reply of 14 July 2002 to the hon. Member's earlier question, Official Report, columns 326–27W, CREST is a standing advisory committee to the Council and the Commission, with records of meetings and opinions forwarded to the Commission and the Council, and publicly available at: http://register.consilium.eu.int
	As my reply of 14 July 2002 noted, the Commission publishes an annual report on the working of committees. The latest of these reports, covering 2001, was submitted to the Scrutiny Committees of both Houses by FCO on 22 January 2003 (EM 5060/03-COM(02)733).

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list (a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU committee for the development of the internal market in postal services and the improvement of the quality of service, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House.

Patricia Hewitt: Officials from the DTI and the Postal Services Commission attend the committee, which has met once since January 2002, on 29 November 2002. The meeting considered a range of technical issues relating to postal service quality standards, and delivered positive opinions on EU proposals for European Committee for Standardisation standards, but took no substantive decisions.
	733). The UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

Export Control Act

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department has received a submission from the National Criminal Intelligence Service in the consultation on the draft secondary orders for the Export Control Act 2002.

Nigel Griffiths: A submission has not been made to the DTI from the UK National Criminal Intelligence Service to the consultation on the Export Control Act 2002 draft secondary legislation.

Fuel Poverty

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many, and what proportion, of households living in fuel poverty have included a person aged 80 or over in each year since 1997.

Brian Wilson: The Government published "The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy 1st Annual Progress Report" on 4 March 2003. This showed that the number of households in fuel poverty in the UK is estimated to have fallen from about 5.5 million in 1996 to about 3 million in 2001.
	Information is available for persons aged 75 or more in fuel poverty. The available information for England is set out in the following table.
	
		Number of percentage of households including persons aged 75 or more in fuel poverty in England
		
			  Number of households (millions) Percentage 
		
		
			 1996   
			 Oldest person in household aged 75 or more 1.0 24 
			 Total fuel poor households 4.3  
			
			 1998   
			 Oldest person in household aged 75 or more 1.1 32 
			 Total fuel poor households 3.3  
			
			 2001   
			 Oldest person in household aged 75 or more 0.6 32 
			 Total fuel poor households 1.8  
		
	
	Notes:
	1. For England the main source of information is the five yearly English House Condition Survey (EHCS). The latest figures on fuel poverty from this survey relate to 2001. Figures for fuel poverty in 1998 have been produced from the Energy Follow Up Survey to the 1996 English House Condition Survey.
	2. Fuel poverty is defined as when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its incoming (including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest) on fuel in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime.

Gas

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what representations have been made by Ministers in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003 to Transco about access to gas supplies;
	(2)  what targets have been set for the number of households accessible to gas supply by (a) 2005 and (b) 2010.

Brian Wilson: The regulation of gas transportation, including connections to the mains gas network, is the responsibility of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM). The Government have not set targets for the numbers of households connected to the network. However, since 2001, in the context of its Fuel Poverty Strategy, the Department of Trade and Industry has been in discussion with Transco and other interested parties about connections to the mains gas network, with a view to promoting industry-led projects to extend the network. I expect the first industry-led projects to begin this year.

Gas

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many pensioners do not have access to gas supplies;
	(2)  how many properties in (a) Bassetlaw and (b) the UK do not have access to gas;
	(3)  how many pensioners receiving concessionary fuel do not have access to gas supply.

Brian Wilson: Around 4.5 million households in Great Britain do not use mains gas, although some could have access to a gas connection. The Government do not hold information on the number of pensioners or the number of households in individual constituencies that do not have access to gas, nor on whether individual recipients of concessionary fuel have access to a gas supply.

Hawk

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with (a) industry and (b) ministerial colleagues concerning BAE Systems' bid to supply Her Majesty's Government with Hawk 128 trainer aircraft; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has been kept informed of how discussions with MoD are progressing on the potential supply of Hawk 128 trainer aircraft to the RAF, both by officials and by the senior management of BAE Systems.
	The DTI has always seen selection of Hawk for the UK's advanced jet trainer requirement as offering the greatest benefits for the UK's industrial base. But we have also accepted MoD's need to evaluate any proposal carefully and buy an aircraft that meets their needs and offers value for money.

International Coffee Organisation

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial resources her Department has allocated to monitoring the International Coffee Organisation quality scheme.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) secretariat administers the quality coffee scheme . A part of the subscriptions of member countries is used to monitor the scheme, primarily by gathering information from exporting members. The Department does not have data on the amount of resources allocated by the ICO to the monitoring aspects of its work.

Ministerial Visits

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which waste management facilities have been visited by the Minister of State for Energy and Construction during his membership of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group.

Brian Wilson: During the very short period that this group met, I was not able to visit any waste management facilities. However, I was asked to open the London Remade Eco Industrial Site for reprocessing glass, construction and demolition wastes in the London Borough of Greenwich.

National Minimum Wage

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated cost is in 2003–04 to her Department, agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible of the increase in the national minimum wage from £4.20 per hour to £4.50 per hour.

Patricia Hewitt: For permanent employees, there will be no cost implications for the Department, its agencies and its NDPBs.
	It is too early to assess the implications of the increase on the cost of contracts.

Regulations

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new regulations on business have been introduced in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The number of Statutory Instruments (SIs) that this Department has passed is as follows:
	1997: 130
	1998: 135
	1999: 178
	2000: 148
	2001: 126
	2002: 109
	Only a small proportion of SIs have a significant impact on business. Of the 109 SIs produced in 2002, 11 have produced cost savings for business and 77 have had negligible or no impact. A regulatory impact assessment is produced for all SIs that have a cost to or benefit for business and copies are available from the Libraries of the House.

Sizewell Power Station

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will visit the Suffolk Coastal constituency to inspect the measures taken to protect Sizewell A and B power stations from attack and afterwards address local constituents on this issue.

Brian Wilson: There are no plans for a Ministerial visit to the Sizewell nuclear power station in the foreseeable future. However I can assure those who are employed at, or live near the facilities that the UK's civil nuclear sites apply stringent security measures regulated by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), the security regulator. The security regulator works closely with the Health and Safety Executive, the safety regulator, which provides advice on the safety implications of events, including external hazards such as plane crashes, at nuclear installations. Security at nuclear sites is kept under regular review in the light of the prevailing threat and has been significantly enhanced since the terrorist attacks in the USA on 11 September 2001. It is not Government policy to disclose details of these measures, which could potentially be of use to terrorists.
	However, with specific regard to the Sizewell B nuclear power station, I can say that subsequent to the incursions by Greenpeace in October 2002 and January 2003, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security have reviewed security and some security enhancements were identified which are being implemented as soon as is practicable.

Sizewell Power Station

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has for alerting local people to subsequent danger in the event of a terrorist attack on Sizewell A and B power stations.

Brian Wilson: Emergency preparedness is a well established feature of the safety regime for civil nuclear sites. Co-ordinated plans are prepared by first tier local authorities, in the case of Sizewell Power Station by the Suffolk County Council, under the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001. These plans include arrangements for alerting local people. Since 11 September 2001, the arrangements to respond to terrorist incidents at nuclear sites have been enhanced. An exercise programme, which has been running over many years, helps ensure emergency response plans are kept up to date and ready at any time.

US Trade

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's policy is on the United States of America's Foreign Sales Corporations provision; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has already found that the US Foreign Sales Corporation Tax is in breach of WTO rules on subsidies.
	The EU, which brought the case on behalf of the member states, has been authorised by the DSB to take countermeasures against US goods to the value of $4 billion.
	Whilst the EU has completed the technical process of finalising a list of US goods on which additional duties could be imposed should the US not comply with the ruling against it, we very much hope that the situation can be resolved without the need to resort to such countermeasures.
	The Department of Trade and Industry consulted the UK business community on the contents of the countermeasures list and successfully achieved changes to it, reflecting the comments that we received.
	No decision has been taken by the EU on whether or not to initiate countermeasures. Any decision to do so will only be taken if the US should fail to comply with the WTO ruling.
	The US has signalled that it intends to comply with the ruling by amending its legislation. So long as it does so, the introduction of countermeasures will be unnecessary.

Working Hours

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many individuals have opted out of the limit of 48 hours on the working week.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 19 May 2003
	The Labour Force Survey indicates that there are around 3.8 million employees who work more than 48 hours per week.
	However, some of these employees will not be covered by the 48-hour weekly working limit in the Working Time Regulations. Those that are covered should have signed an 'opt out' agreement with their employer.
	There is no central record kept of how many workers in the UK who have signed such agreements.
	However, all employers must keep records of their workers who have signed an opt out, and must make this information available to the enforcement agencies on request.

WALES

Chernobyl (Farms)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farms in Wales are still affected by the radioactive fall out from the 1986 Chernobyl accident; and what land area they cover.

Peter Hain: There are currently 359 holdings in Wales within the restricted area with 180,000 sheep under restriction arising from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.
	There are no details of the total land area under restriction because not all the land attributed to a holding is necessarily under restriction. The areas affected are mountain grazings, the farm low land is generally free from restrictions.

Counselling Services

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements are made in his Department to allow staff to access counselling services.

Peter Hain: The staff at the Wales Office are secondees from other Government Departments and in particular the National Assembly for Wales. The Assembly Staff Welfare Service provides Wales Office staff with help, support and advice on personal and work-related problems.
	The Assembly is currently running a pilot scheme, for which Wales Office staff are eligible, which enables staff to access external counselling services.

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by his Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in the last 12 months, broken down by title, purpose, date and cost.

Peter Hain: My Department has sponsored no events of this type in the last 12 months.

Departmental Staff

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of regional variations in staff turnover in his Department.

Peter Hain: The working patterns of my Department between London and Cardiff are such that a regional analysis would not be meaningful.

Digital Broadcasting

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what access residents of Blaenau Gwent will have to digital terrestrial television; and when analogue broadcasting will be withdrawn from viewers in Wales.

Peter Hain: The Government issued a statement on 30 January 2003 on the principles on which planning the use of the UHF spectrum after switchover will proceed. The Spectrum Planning Group within the Digital Television project is proceeding with this planning work. It will allow more detailed advice to be given on the digital television service that will be available in Blaenau Gwent and elsewhere on switchover by the end of 2004.
	The Government are committed to ensuring that terrestrial analogue broadcasting signals are maintained until:
	Everyone who can currently get the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form can receive them on digital systems,
	Switching to digital is an affordable option for the vast majority of people.
	When the Government first announced these criteria in September 1999, we said that digital television switchover could start to happen as early as 2006 and be completed by 2010. We remain convinced that this is achievable.

Health Service

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding the health service in Wales.

Don Touhig: I regularly meet the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss a variety of topics including health.

Knowledge Network Project

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress being made on Wales Office participation in the Knowledge Network project.

Peter Hain: As a Department with no responsibility for policy making, the Wales Office does not contribute policy briefing to the Knowledge Network Central Brief. The Department does have a presence on Knowledge Network—there is an entry on the role of the Wales Office and the Secretary of State for Wales; and two entries on the Electronic List of Ministerial Responsibilities

National Assembly

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people whom he met, during his recent tour of Welsh constituencies, who expressed views in favour of increasing the power of the National Assembly for Wales.

Peter Hain: During the election campaign, I regularly met members of the public and discussed a range of issues. However, I do not recall anyone raising increased powers for the Assembly.

Promoting Wales

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the work his Department has undertaken in the last year to promote Wales abroad, with particular reference to (a) overseas visits, (b) meetings with overseas delegations in the UK and (c) events promoting Wales held in the UK.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to page 12 of the Wales Office annual report for 2003 (Cm 5928) which lists the principal representational achievements of my Department.

Public Service Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps the Department has taken to publicise its Public Service Agreement targets; and at what cost to public funds.

Peter Hain: My Department does not have a Public Service Agreement.

Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff in his Department were on long term sick leave in each of the last five years.

Peter Hain: Since the establishment of the Wales Office on 1 July 1999 to date there have been only two staff on long term sick leave.
	Long term sick leave is defined as continuous sickness absence of 30 days or more.

Terrorism

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what reason Welsh ports are not being provided with counter terrorism technology to identify the import of radioactive materials.

Peter Hain: All ports and airports receiving foreign traffic will be covered by equipment to detect the import of radioactive materials. Large ports and airports will have permanently installed equipment; others will be covered by mobile equipment. No decision has yet been taken as to which ports and airports will be served by permanent equipment and which by mobile equipment.

Youth Pay

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the average hourly wage is for people under the age of 18 working in Wales.

Peter Hain: holding answer 13 May 2003
	The New Earnings Survey (NES) is a sample of around 1 per cent. of employees across the UK. The 2002 NES suggests that the average hourly wage for under 18s in the UK is £3.89, based on a limited sample of under 18s. No regional breakdown is produced, and on this basis a Wales figure is not available.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Angola

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with lifting sanctions on the Angola rebels; and what the prospects are for holding free elections in Angola by 2005.

Bill Rammell: All sanctions on UNITA were lifted on 9 December 2002, by the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1448 (2002). The US, EU and others have updated their domestic regulations to reflect this, or are in the process of doing so.
	The Government of Angola have not yet announced a date for elections, but the focus is on 2004–05. Before elections can be held, it is essential that proper electoral processes are put in place, including voter registration and education, to ensure that elections are transparent, free and fair.

Angola

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with (a) security sector reform and (b) better economic and political governance in Angola.

Bill Rammell: There has been little progress, as yet, on Security Sector Reform. Our embassy in Luanda has had preliminary contacts with the Angolan Defence Ministry to see whether UK expertise here, especially in peacekeeping, would be welcome. We are awaiting an Angolan response.
	The Government of Angola (GoA) has taken some steps towards improving economic and political governance and transparency. These include an audit of the Central Bank; placing customs administration under Crown Agents; undertaking an Oil Diagnostic Study by KPMG; and reviewing the public procurement system. As part of its Technical Support Strategy for Angola, the World bank is currently conducting a Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability Review. The UK plans to help in this. The review will make recommendations later this year. The GoA needs to strengthen public finance management and macro economic policy to reduce economic instability. The UK is encouraging Angola to take further measures to improve oil sector transparency by participating in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in 2002. We have also provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Planning, following a request to help prepare its Interim-Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP).

Asylum Seekers

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many failed asylum seekers from (a) Afghanistan, (b) Iraq, (c) Iran and (d) Pakistan have subsequently been granted early clearance to the United Kingdom on a visitor's visa in each of the last three years.

Bill Rammell: We do not retain statistics of the number of successful visitor visa applicants who have previously been refused asylum in the UK. To obtain this information, visa sections worldwide would need to compare the names of successful visa applicants with those whose claims for asylum had previously been refused: this would incur disproportionate cost.
	Entry Clearance Officers (ECOs) overseas consider each application on its own merits against the relevant requirements of the Immigration Rules. An application from someone who had previously been refused asylum would not, therefore, necessarily fall for refusal, although an ECO would take this into account when making a decision.

Burundi

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with (a) a cease-fire and (b) the implementation of the Arusha Agreement in Burundi.

Bill Rammell: We welcome the peaceful transfer of presidential power in Burundi on 1 May, in accordance with the Arusha Agreement.
	We continue to work closely with EU and Security Council colleagues to support the South African facilitation, the regional initiative and the Government of Burundi in their efforts to secure a comprehensive ceasefire, to end continued violence by armed groups and to ensure that the next phase of the transition proceeds smoothly.

Dalit People

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held by UK representatives in India with representatives of Dalit peoples; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Our Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi discussed Dalit issues with the Chairman of the Dalit Solidarity Network in February this year. I also discussed the issues with the Government of India during my visit in October last year.
	We remain concerned about Dalits in India. We welcome the work of the many international Dalit rights organisations to end caste discrimination. We and our EU Partners are committed to human rights and will continue to raise issues such as discrimination based on work and descent in our meetings with the governments of those countries affected by this problem. We are also currently supporting human rights project work on bonded labour, an issue affecting many Dalits in India.

European Constitution

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which EU member states and accession countries' governments are proposing to hold national referenda to ratify the European Constitution; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: A new EU treaty would need to be ratified according to the individual political and constitutional traditions of each of the Member States. None of our EU partners have yet made formal announcements on whether they would hold a referendum on a Constitutional Treaty. Of the 25 countries affected, we are aware that the constitutional traditions of some, such as Denmark and Ireland, make referenda in those countries likely, whereas the constitutional traditions of others, such as Germany, make referendums unlikely. In the UK, EU treaties are only ratified after rigorous scrutiny by Parliament, as has been the case with all previous treaties modifying the founding Treaties of the EU.

European Constitution

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether draft article 14 of Title B of the Draft European Constitution is intended to be justiciable by the European Court of Justice.

Denis MacShane: The jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice does not currently extend to the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). We have made it clear in the Convention that this position should remain unchanged. Article 240b of the draft Constitutional Treaty provides that the Court of Justice shall not have competence over the chapter applying to the CFSP, which includes draft article 14. This chapter will be set out in Part II of the draft Treaty.

Fishing Industry

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Commission's recovery plan to save cod from extinction in (a) the North Sea and (b) other fishing grounds around Britain.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The European Commission have recently published proposals for the long-term recovery of cod stocks, both in the North Sea and elsewhere. We are currently considering these proposals in consultation with the UK fishing industry.

Fishing Industry

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the EU Fisheries Commissioner.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	I regularly speak to Commissioner Fischler, and last did so at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 8 April 2003.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the forthcoming United Nations Conference in Anguilla in May, with particular reference to issues affecting Gibraltar; and which officials will be representing the UK at the Conference.

Denis MacShane: The UN seminar being held in Anguilla on 20–22 May 2003 is an annual event, organised by the United Nations Committee on De-colonisation (known as the C24).
	This will be the first time that the seminar has been held on a UK Overseas Territory. The seminar will focus this year on ways in which to advance the de-colonisation process in the Caribbean and Bermuda, and in particular on those Territories where the political and economic situation may offer the greatest scope for progress towards self-determination. The discussion will however be of interest to non-Caribbean Overseas Territories, and I understand that the Chief Minister of Gibraltar plans to attend.
	The FCO will be represented by officials from London and the UK Mission to the United Nations in New York, led by the Deputy Head of Overseas Territories Department.

Great Lakes

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with (a) disarmament, (b) demobilisation, (c) repatriation, (d) reintegration, (e) rehabilitation and (f) post-war reconstruction in the Great Lakes region of Africa.

Bill Rammell: Latest information available indicates that some 1,500 non-Congolese former combatants have been through the UN's Disarmament, Demobilisation, Repatriation, Reintegration and Rehabilitation (DDRRR) programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo and returned to Rwanda.
	In Rwanda there is a continuing demobilisation and reintegration programme for ex-combatants from both the Rwandan army and rebel groups.
	The UK is playing an active part within the international community in planning for post-war reconstruction in the Great Lakes region. On DDRRR specifically, we have contributed US$25 million to a Trust Fund administered by the World bank for DDRRR in the Great Lakes region. The UK has also contributed £5.5 million to the Rwandan Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the European Environment Agency regarding greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on changes in the level of such gases in European Union member states since January 2001.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with the European Environment Agency regarding greenhouse gases.
	The UK Government are a European leader in taking action on climate change. Latest published data for 2001 show that the UK has achieved reductions of 12.3 per cent. below 1990 levels in emissions of the basket of six greenhouse gases. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently announced the UK's intention to put itself on a path to reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide by some 60 per cent. by 2050. In line with this commitment, the Prime Minister has pressed other EU member states to take similar action and go beyond their Kyoto target.
	The EU as a whole has met its target under the United Nations Framework on Climate Change to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2000. Latest published data show that greenhouse gas emissions for EU15 were 2.3 per cent. below 1990 levels in 2001.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on export controls for items on the military and dual-use list to (a) Iraqi Interim Authority and (b) the future Government of Iraq; if the Government has discussed the matter with (i) the USA, (ii) the EU and (iii) the UN; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government favours lifting of sanctions on Iraq as soon as possible. There may be a requirement for some restriction on supply of military and dual-use equipment for some time. We are in intensive discussions on the range of issues related to sanctions-lift with the US, with EU partners and with the United Nations.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had since January 2000 with Arab nations' foreign affairs ministries on trying to arrange for the re-admission of United Nations inspectors into Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: As part of our efforts to ensure the return of UN inspectors in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1,284, the Government regularly had discussions with a wide range of other Governments, including those in the Middle East.
	We continue to believe that it is desirable that there should be independent verification of any discoveries of Iraqi WMD made by coalition forces following the recent military campaign. We are actively engaged in discussions with the aim of establishing an independent verification regime for any such discoveries. UN inspection teams remain an option.

Iraq

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy was in 1999 on the use of intermediaries between the UK and the Iraqi regime; and what intermediaries were used (a) formally and (b) informally.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer of 16 May 2003
	. We have found no record of use of intermediaries in 1999.

Kenya

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet (a) the President of Kenya and (b) representatives of the Kenyan Government.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not yet had the opportunity to meet President Kibaki. While there are no immediate plans to meet with representatives of the new Government, the Foreign Secretary met the Kenyan Foreign Minister, Kalonzo Musyoka, when he visited London in February.

Kenya

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's relations with Kenya under President Kibaki.

Bill Rammell: The UK Government warmly welcomed the election in December 2002 of President Kibaki and his National Rainbow Coalition. In January official visits to Kenya were made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Clare Short), the then International Development Secretary and my noble Friend Baroness Amos, the then Minister for Africa at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Kenyan Foreign Minister paid a visit to the UK in February. We strongly endorse the reform agenda pursued by President Kibaki and look forward to working closely with his government to help realise Kenya's potential.

Liberia

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the role of the Liberian timber trade in supporting Charles Taylor's regime;
	(2)  if he will support sanctions on Liberian timber exports

Bill Rammell: The UK supports sanctions on Liberian timber exports. We were therefore pleased that on 7 May 2003 the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1478 (2003) unanimously. The resolution renewed and extended sanctions against Liberia. The Council added a new ban on all timber sales from Liberia. This will deprive the Government of Liberia of their revenue used to fund arms purchases. The ban will come into effect on 7 July 2003.
	We continue to call on all countries to respect the sanctions imposed on Liberia.

Liberia

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking (a) to bring peace and better governance to Liberia and (b) to end Liberian efforts to destabilise Sierra Leone and other countries.

Bill Rammell: The UK is committed to helping restore peace and good governance to the Mano River sub-region.
	With the International Contact group on Liberia we are working with the key regional actors to bring about a comprehensive ceasefire and peace process. This is mediated by the former Nigerian head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar. The most recent Contact Group meeting took place in Brussels on 12 May.
	On 6 May 2003 the UK, with other UN Security Council members, supported United Nations Security Council resolution 1478 (2003). This rolled over the previous resolutions, maintaining and strengthening the sanctions imposed against Liberia for its destabilising role in the sub-region, including Sierra Leone. The resolution added a ban on all timber products from Liberia and strengthened the travel ban to include members of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy and other armed rebel groups known to be in breach of the arms embargo.
	We continue to call on all countries to enforce the sanctions vigorously.

Nadhmi Auchi

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions (a) ministers in his Department and (b) departmental officials have met Mr.Nadhmi Auchi officially since 2nd May 1997; where these meetings took place; who was present; when they took place; and what was discussed on each occasion.

Mike O'Brien: As far as we are aware, neither Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers nor officials have had official contact with Nadhmi Auchi since 2 May 1997.

Nadhmi Auchi

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) departmental officials have spoken to Mr. Nadhmi Auchi by telephone since 2 May 1997; and what was discussed on each occasion.

Mike O'Brien: As far as we can establish, neither Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers nor officials have records of any telephone contact with Nadhmi Auchi since 2 May 1997.

Central Africa

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with President Kagame of Rwanda regarding (a) Rwanda's plans to redeploy troops in Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and (b) the political situation in Rwanda;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with President Museveni of Uganda regarding Uganda's redeployment and subsequent withdrawal of troops in Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent talks with President Kagame of Rwanda and President Museveni of Uganda on the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo;
	(4)  what recent discussions he has had with President Kagame of Rwanda regarding preparations to conclude the post-genocide transition period in Rwanda as defined by the Arusha Accords;
	(5)  what recent discussions he has had with President Kagame of Rwanda regarding (a) the explulsion of the Democratic Republican Movement from the Rwandan Parliament and (b) the need for free and fair elections in Rwanda;
	(6)  if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent talks with President Kagame of Rwanda and President Museveni of Uganda on relations between the two countries.

Bill Rammell: My right honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary met President Kagame on 7 May 2003. They discussed a range of subjects, including relations between Rwanda and Uganda, the conclusion of the post-genocide transition period in Rwanda, the handling of the forthcoming elections, and the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
	My right hon Friend the Foreign Secretary did not meet President Museveni of Uganda during the latter's visit to UK on 7–8 May. President Museveni attended talks with President Kagame hosted by my right honourable Friend the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Clare Short), the then International Development Secretary. In a communiqué issued at the conclusion of these talks the two Presidents expressed their gratitude to the UK Government for facilitating dialogue between them and agreed to continue to work to regain their former fraternal relations. I have placed a copy of the communique in the Library of the House.

South Africa

Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his visit to South Africa on 13 and 14 May.

Jack Straw: holding answer of 19 May 2003
	I visited South Africa on 13–14 May accompanied by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and the Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Twigg). I had talks with President Mbeki and Foreign Minister Zuma, attended the memorial service for Walter Sisulu, and visited Soweto. My discussions with the South African Government covered NEPAD, the Middle East, and a range of key African issues, including Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. My ministerial colleagues had parallel discussions with their South African counterparts on the environment and education.
	My visit was a positive demonstration of the excellent relationship between the UK and South Africa, which covers areas of priority for both governments, as shown in our Joint Communiqué. I have placed a copy of that Communiqué in the Library of the House. My visit also reminded me of the remarkable progress and reconciliation which South Africa has achieved in just a few years since the end of apartheid.

Sudan

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the progress and prospects of the peace process in Sudan.

Bill Rammell: New momentum has been injected into the Sudan peace process following the summit meeting between President Bashir and Dr. Garang in Nairobi on 2 April. Both leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to the peace process, the Machakos Protocol, and the agreements on cessation of hostilities and unimpeded humanitarian access.
	There are outstanding problems which need to be resolved, on power and wealth sharing, the three conflict areas and ceasefire and security issues. Discussion of these issues has now begun and we are optimistic about the prospects for peace. There is a good chance of agreement this year.

Syria

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomatic staff represent the United Kingdom in Syria; how many there were (a) five years ago, (b) 10 years ago and (c) 15 years ago; what plans are in place to change the number of diplomatic staff in Syria in the next five months; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: There are currently 13 Diplomatic Staff in our embassy in Damascus plus two Ministry of Defence staff attached to the Mission. There were 12 Diplomatic Staff in 1998 and 1993. In 1988 there were only six Diplomatic Staff.
	We have no plans to withdraw any Diplomatic Staff from Syria in the next five months.

US Administration (Talks)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the US administration on (a) NATO reconfiguration and (b) plans to increase its troops presence in Africa.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions on the future development of NATO with the US and other Allies. NATO Foreign Ministers last met in Brussels on 3 April.
	At the Prague Summit in November 2002, NATO Heads of State and Government took decisions to transform the Alliance to meet the new threats and security challenges of the 21st Century. To do this NATO must develop new military capabilities to meet these new threats, streamline NATO command structures and have access to flexible Allied forces, able to move quickly to wherever they are needed. As part of this process, NATO has embarked on a radical reshaping of its command structure. The UK strongly supports this process.
	Prague also emphasises the commitment of NATO to operate out of the Euro-Atlantic area, in order to meet threats to the Allies' common security interests. In this context, NATO decided on 16 April 2003 to offer increased support to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. NATO has no permanent troop presence in Africa and no plans to establish one.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Asylum Seekers

Linda Perham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to assist local authorities to undertake their duties under the Children Act 1989 to care for all unaccompanied asylum seekers under the age of 18.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	Unaccompanied asylum seeking children are supported by local authorities' social services departments under the Children Act 1989. This support is financed through a grant from the Home Office.

Fire Services

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his most recent estimate is of the cost of the Fire Service dispute; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister said in his statement to the House on 8 May, the total cost to the public purse now stands at over £100 million.

Housing Bill

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion he estimates charges by the Environment Agency will represent of the total costs of the seller's packs proposed in the draft Housing Bill.

Tony McNulty: A consultation paper on contents of the home information pack was published on 31 March 2003. This invites views on, among other things, the nature and content of any environmental information to be included in the pack. The cost of obtaining such information from the Environment Agency or other source would depend on the nature and extent of the information required. This cannot be estimated at this time.

Listed Buildings

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what powers he has to revoke a planning consent affecting an historic building whose listed status has been upgraded subsequent to the consent; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Planning permission can be revoked only in exceptional circumstances. It would be for the local planning authority to consider whether to make a revocation order. Any such order would need to be approved by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister. In determining any subsequent application for planning permission, the local planning authority would need to take into account the revised listed status of the building.

Polluted Land

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what effect seller's packs will have on properties situated on polluted land.

Tony McNulty: The effect of the home information pack on such properties will be to make more information on possible pollution available to prospective buyers at the start of the transaction process. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's consultation paper on the contents of the home information pack identifies three ways in which the pack could identify potential pollution problems affecting the property. The first is the standard searches made of local authorities. These would identify, for example, any entry relating to the property in the register maintained under section 78R(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The second is an environmental search, which could identify, for example, close proximity to the operation of certain prescribed industrial processes. The third is the home condition report, which would identify any potential pollution problem observed by the home inspector in the course of his inspection of the property. The detailed contents of the home information pack will be considered further in the light of responses to the consultation.

Right to Buy Order

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received about the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount (Amendment)) Order.

Tony McNulty: A number of representations have been received since this Order was laid before Parliament on 6 March 2003. Some oppose the Government's decision to lower the maximum Right to Buy discount available to tenants in certain areas where housing market pressures are greatest. Others welcome the changes.

Tourism

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he carried out a regulatory impact assessment on the impact on tourism in England of (a) his proposals to withdraw PPG21 on Tourism, (b) the abolition of county councils' strategic planning role on tourism in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill and (c) the effectiveness of the increased role for Regional Planning Guidance for tourism, with special reference to the boundaries of (i) the former English regional tourist boards and (ii) English regions.

Tony McNulty: A regulatory impact assessment was not appropriate in respect of proposals to withdraw PPG21, given that no new regulations are proposed. Since we are not proposing to abolish the county council's strategic role in relation to tourism, we did not cover this issue in the regulatory impact assessment for the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill. The new Regional Spatial Strategies will have an increasing sub-regional dimension in which the strategic planning authorities will have an important role through their representation on the Regional Planning Bodies, as statutory consultees, and in some cases, as agents of the Regional Planning Bodies. The new arrangements will enable the sub-regional planning aspects of tourism to be addressed on a more effective functional basis than structure plan boundaries allow.

Tourism

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how planning guidance as outlined in (a) Annex A on hotels, (b) Annex B on holidays and touring caravans and (c) Annex C on seasonal and holiday occupancy conditions will be disseminated to local planning authorities when PPG21 on tourism is withdrawn.

Tony McNulty: Key planning policies for tourism are contained in other PPGs, particularly PPG6 on town centres, PPG7 on the countryside and PPG13 on transport. All PPGs are to be reviewed in accordance with our proposals for the reform of the planning system. In the event that PPG21 on tourism is withdrawn, the planning guidance as outlined in Annexes A, B and C of the existing PPG21 on tourism will feed into other relevant PPGs, or to Good Practice Guidance, as appropriate.

Wind Farms

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will require local planning authorities to issue local supplementary planning guidance on wind farm applications in advance of their next plan review cycle.

Tony McNulty: No. Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 12 clearly states that Supplementary Planning Guidance should not be used to update plans in this way. A draft revised version of PPG22 on renewable energy will be published for consultation later this year. The Government expect local planning authorities to update plans on a regular basis to take account of new Government policy. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to update plans once the final version of the new PPG22 has been published. If plans are out of date and not in line with Government policy, then new PPGs will be material considerations to be taken into account in planning decisions.

HEALTH

Mobile Phone Masts Mobile Phones

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to reduce the UK's accepted levels of radiation emissions from mobile telephone masts.

Hazel Blears: The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has the statutory responsibility for advising the Government on exposure guidelines for electromagnetic fields (EMFs). This includes radiofrequency (RF) radiation from mobile phone masts. The advice from NRPB is, however, concerned with exposures to EMFs from all sources.
	NRPB has recently issued a consultation document in which it proposes new advice on exposure guidelines for EMFs. The consultation document is posted on its website at: http://www.nrpb.org/publications/consultation documents/emf consultation document.htm
	In its new advice, the NRPB recommends adopting for the United Kingdom the guidelines recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICNIRP) in 1998. It thus covers the range of emissions from mobile phone masts, for which the limits are based on preventing any effects caused by whole or partial body heating.
	In the last few years the Radiocommunications Agency (RA) and the NRPB have carried out and published measurements of people's exposures to RF near to base station sites. The data show that exposure to signals from masts at locations accessible to the general public is very much lower than guideline levels advised by the ICNIRP.
	This finding is consistent with the conclusions in a report prepared by an independent expert group on mobile phones under the chairmanship of Sir William Stewart, FRS, FRSE. The expert group published its report on Mobile Phones and Health in May 2000 and it is available on the group's web site at: www.ieqmp.orq.uk. The conclusion of IEGMP on exposures to signals from masts was that:
	"The balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines."

Mobile Phone Masts Mobile Phones

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further steps he will take to investigate the environmental health effects of mobile phone masts; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 15 May 2003
	The public health implications of mobile phone base stations were assessed by the independent expert group on mobile phones (IEGMP), chaired by Sir William Stewart. Its report, issued in May 2000, was a comprehensive review of relevant research and can be found on its website at www.iegmp.org.uk. A main conclusion was that:
	"The balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines."
	Measurements undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and the Radiocommunications Agency (RA) have confirmed that public exposures are very much lower than the international guidelines. The information is available on the NRBP website at www.nrpb.org—see publications NRPB R-321 and on the RA website at www. radio.gov.uk—see mobile phone base stations.
	The IEGMP proposed that gaps in knowledge were sufficient to justify a precautionary approach to the development of this technology and recommendations were made for further research. The LINK Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme (MTHR) has now been established under an independent Programme Management Committee (PMC). Research studies already underway are mainly concerned with the use of mobile phone handsets but the PMC has recently commissioned an epidemiological study addressing public concerns about possible health risks from exposure to emissions from base stations. It is one of the first such studies in the world. Further information can be found on the MTHR website at www.mthr.orq.uk.

Mobile Phone Masts Mobile Phones

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has received on mobile phone usage and associated physiological damage, with particular reference to (a) cataract growth and (b) molecular damage; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: A number of studies on the purported biological effects of mobile phone usage have been published in the scientific press. These include work on cataract formation published in the Chinese Medical Journal in December 2002 and molecular studies in various journals. The quality of the reports is variable and they can only be properly assessed in totality by a review group with the appropriate wide ranging expertise.
	The Stewart Report in May 2000 provided a comprehensive review of the possible health effects of radiofrequency exposure from the use of mobile phones and found that "exposures to radiofrequency (RF) radiation below guidelines does not cause adverse health effects to the general population." Similar conclusions were reached by a Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel (1999), the Health Council of the Netherlands (2000), an Expert Group set up by the French Government (2001) and the British Medical Association (2001).
	The Stewart Report recommended that there should be a further comprehensive review of the science related to possible health effects of exposure to RF radiation within three years. This review is being carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board's (NRPB) independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR). The review is nearing completion and will be finalised by the end of 2003.

National Service Framework for Older People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 7 April, Official Report, column 105W, on the National Service Framework for older people, if he will place a copy of the monitoring exercise in the Library.

Jacqui Smith: The results of the monitoring exercise were published in the progress report, National Service Framework for Older people: A Report of Progress and future Challenges,2003, copies of which were sent to all English right hon. and hon. Members.

Anti-psychotic Medication

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure that anti-psychotic medication is not being prescribed unnecessarily to older people in nursing homes.

Jacqui Smith: The older people's national service framework (NSF) recognises that there has been concern about the inappropriate prescribing of anti-psychotics to people with dementia, especially those in care homes. By implementing the NSF, particularly the medicines management supplement, inappropriate prescribing is being tackled.
	There is other relevant action. For example, under the care homes regulatory regime, care homes are required to keep meticulous medical and drug records on every resident and, if the National Care Standards Commission finds evidence of over-prescription or maladministration of drugs, it will report such evidence to the police and the professional bodies of those involved for further action.
	In addition, on 31 March 2003, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will be producing a guideline on the care of people with dementia, including the use of anti-psychotics, as part of the eighth wave of its programme. This will be important in achieving the best use of anti-psychotic medication for people with dementia.

Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the pay differentials between staff of the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust based at (a) Ashford and (b) Chertsey;
	(2)  what plans he has to provide the resources needed to enable the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust to implement the recommendations in the Commission for Health Improvement report on the trust's maternity services;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the progress made with the implementation of the Franchise Plan for the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust;
	(4)  what discussions have taken place between his officials and officers of the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust about the possibility of opening a midwife-led maternity unit at Ashford Hospital;
	(5)  what discussions have taken place between his officials and officers of the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust about Dr. Kevin Gangar.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 19 May 2003
	The Government's policy is to put as much National Health Service funding as possible at the front-line. In 2003–04, the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area will receive a recurrent allocation of £2,269 million, a 9.29 per cent, cash terms increase on the previous year. The maternity unit at the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust is currently undergoing a £1.4 million programme of modernisation and refurbishment.
	It is a matter for the trust, working with the SHA, to produce and implement an action plan for the recommendations made by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI). It is understood that the trust is in the process of doing this.
	Advice from the SHA suggests that significant progress has been made on the franchise plan for Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust. Since the plan was agreed the trust has:
	Implemented a £10 million capital programme, including additional theatre capacity at Ashford Hospital and Medical Assessment Unit at St. Peter's Hospital.
	Improved recruitment and retention.
	Improved communications with staff and stakeholders.
	Agreed capacity plans with local primary care trusts.
	Moved from being a zero star to one star trust.
	It is understood that the trust, as part of a wider review of services on its two sites, will be considering the viability of a midwifery-led maternity unit at Ashford Hospital in addition to planning enhancements to ante- and post-natal services at Ashford. Issues such as paediatric cover and midwife recruitment must also be considered to make improvements to the unit at St. Peter's Hospital, following publication of the CHI investigation report.
	The responsibility for the disciplining of doctors is a matter for the employing trust, which will take into account the outcome of General Medical Council hearings.
	It is understood that prior to Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust merger, Ashford Hospital paid staff a London weighting allowance whereas St. Peter's Hospital did not. This differential has gradually been phased out as employees move but some are still affected. The Agenda for Change initiative provides the trust with an opportunity to address this differential.

Asthma

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many respiratory specialists there are for asthma patients in Dorset.

Hazel Blears: Information is not collected centrally on the numbers of respiratory specialists for particular patient types. There are nine specialists in respiratory medicine working within the former Dorset health authority area, six of whom are consultants.

BCG Vaccinations

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the new action plan for tuberculosis will be published; and for what reason it has not yet been published.

Hazel Blears: The tuberculosis action plan will give clear objectives and the issues surrounding them are complex. It is for this reason that we have taken time to ensure these are thoroughly thought through.
	The Chief Medical Officer will make an announcement on the action plan shortly.

Bed Rails

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions (a) his Department and (b) the Medical Devices Agency has held with (i) residential and nursing homes, (ii) NHS trusts and (iii) patients' groups on guidelines for the use of bed rails; and what plans there are to issue further guidelines.

Jacqui Smith: There have been no recent direct discussions with these bodies by either the Department of Health or the Medical Devices Agency, now the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. There are no current plans to issue further guidelines, as we have recently issued 41,500 wall posters on this subject to care homes, the independent healthcare sector and the national health service, together with our guidance document, DB2001(04), "Advice on the safe use of bed rails". We are embarking upon a programme of countrywide training events for users of bed safety equipment in conjunction with the Disabled Living Centres Council. This will provide useful hands-on experience with a variety of current equipment to care assistants, nurses and occupational therapists.

Bed Rails

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are in place on the use of bed rails for people with osteoporosis and similar brittle bone conditions.

Jacqui Smith: The Medical Devices Agency, now the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), published a guidance document in 2001, DB2001(04), "Advice on the safe use of bed rails", which highlighted the importance of individual risk assessment for every bed occupant, rather than focussing on particular patient groups. No specific guidelines have been published by the MHRA, or any other body that we are aware of, in relation to bed rail use by people with osteoporosis.

Bed Rails

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) fatalities and (b) serious injuries from incidents involving bed rails have been reported to the Medical Devices Agency in each year since 1994.

Jacqui Smith: The available information is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Fatalities Serious injuries 
		
		
			 1994 0 0 
			 1995 0 0 
			 1996 1 0 
			 1997 4 3 
			 1998 2 0 
			 1999 3 0 
			 2000 7 1 
			 2001 4 3 
			 2002 7 1 
			 2003 1 1 
		
	
	These data should be interpreted with caution.
	The existence of a report does not imply established causality, and there has been a significant increase in reporting levels for all devices following initiatives by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to address under-reporting, together with the introduction of mandatory vigilance reporting under the Medical Devices Directive.

Breast Cancer Guidance

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 29 April, ref 109824, what the (a) full title and (b) date of publication are of the breast cancer guidance from NICE referred to in the answer.

Hazel Blears: The breast cancer service guidance referred to in the reply of 29 April is the Improving Outcomes in Breast Cancer—Manual Update, published in August 2002. This guidance is an update of the original Improving Outcomes in Breast Cancer, published by the Department of Health in 1996.
	The full guidance is available on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence website at www.nice.co.uk

Care Standards

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will discuss with the Home Secretary the application of the (a) Care Standards Act 2000 and (b) Police Act 1997 to access for inspectors for the National Care Standards Commission to criminal records information about staff in care homes.

Jacqui Smith: Officials from the Department of Health and the Home Office meet and are in discussion about the application of the Care Standards Act 2000 and the Police Act 1997 in relation to criminal records checks on care home staff.
	National Care Standards Commission inspectors have access to staff records held by care homes. All new staff must have provided a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau check. Unfortunately, due to delays at the CRB in processing applications for criminal records disclosures, checks on staff in post immediately before April 2002 have been postponed to 31 October 2004. However, this timetable will be brought forward if possible.

Cheshire and Merseyside SHA

Mr. Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority spent on obtaining legal advice in 2002–03; and if he will break down the advice by categories of subject.

Jacqui Smith: The total amount spent on legal advice by Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority (SHA) in 2002–03 was £65,708.90. This advice covered employment advice for transitional arrangements for staff transferring to new organisations, and lease arrangements for the SHA headquarters in Warrington.

Consultants

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultant time is commissioned by each DAAT in England and Wales in the current year.

Hazel Blears: This information is not available centrally. Psychiatric consultant time is commissioned by primary care trusts (PCTs), which have access to mainstream funds and the drug treatment pooled budget, which stands at £243.6 million for this year. Each PCT, in consultation with its drug action team partners, must decide how much consultant time is required, according to the needs of the local community. Commissioning should be in accordance with these needs.

Depression (Schoolchildren)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department will take in relation to depression in adolescent girls.

Jacqui Smith: According to a survey of the mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain, carried out by the Office for National Statistics in 1999, 1.9 per cent. of 11–15 year old girls suffered from a depressive episode. All child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are able to respond to referrals to assess and treat depression, including depressive illness in adolescent girls. Since 1999, the Department's CAMHS development strategy has helped to improve significantly the range, quality and accessibility of local services. Over the next three years we will be investing a further £250 million across the national health service and local authorities with the aim of securing comprehensive services, including mental health promotion and early intervention, in all areas by 2006. We recently published for consultation the emerging findings from the children's national service framework, which had a chapter on the mental health of children and adolescents and the outline of what a comprehensive local service should comprise.

Depression (Schoolchildren)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken to deal with problems of depression amongst pupils.

Jacqui Smith: A survey of the mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain, carried out by the Office for National Statistics in 1999, found that 1.8 per cent. of 11–15 year olds had suffered from a depressive episode. All child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are able to respond to referrals to assess and treat depression, including depressive illness. Over the next three years we will be investing an additional £250 million across the national health service and local authorities with the aim of securing comprehensive services, including mental health promotion and early intervention, in all areas by 2006.
	The Department for Education and Skills has issued guidance, to which this Department contributed, that addresses mental health promotion in schools. The guidance is designed to increase awareness about children's mental health among teachers and to provide examples of good practice. We have also recently published for consultation the emerging findings from the children's national service framework, which has a chapter on the mental health of children and adolescents and the outline of what a comprehensive local service should comprise.

Diet

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effects on human health of hydrogenated fats in processed foods.

Hazel Blears: The Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) considered trans ("hydrogenated") fatty acids in the report Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease (1994).
	COMA concluded that trans fatty acids may have undesirable effects on plasma cholesterol and coronary heart disease mortality. COMA therefore recommended that
	"on average trans fatty acids should provide no more than the current average of about 2 per cent, of dietary energy and that consideration should be given to ways of decreasing the amount present in the diet."
	The forthcoming national diet and nutrition survey of adults will allow an assessment of current intakes of trans fatty acids. In addition, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) commissions a range of research on fat and its implications for human health, details of which can be found on the FSA website at www.food.qov.uk.

Diet

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy to increase public awareness of the effects of hydrogenated fats on human health.

Hazel Blears: The Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are engaged with stakeholders in a wide range of activities aimed at promoting a healthy balanced diet, including increasing people's awareness of the overall quantity and balance of different types of fats in the diet. The FSA also produces a consumer leaflet on the place of fats within a healthy diet.
	There is NHS Plan commitment to work with industry to address the overall balance of the diet, including fat, sugar and salt, working with industry. The Department and the FSA are currently in discussion with the food industry on levels of salt in foods; action on fats and added sugars will follow through 2003–04.
	Wider initiatives, such as the five-a day programme, reform of the Welfare Food Scheme and various programmes in schools to improve the diets of children are also likely to help reduce intakes of fats, including hydrogenated fats. The forthcoming food and health action plan will pull together all the issues that influence what we eat and will address healthy eating at all stages of the life course. The plan will build on a comprehensive on-going programme of work already underway across Government on healthy eating.

Food Safety

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what food safety checks are in place on eggs and egg products originating from (a) the European Community and (b) the United States.

Hazel Blears: Under European Union single market rules, food products such as eggs originating from other EU member states are in free circulation in the United Kingdom and are not subject to checks at UK ports.
	Eggs imported from countries outside the EU, such as the United States, are subject to veterinary checks at designated border inspection posts, where they undergo documentary and identity checks and a proportion are subject to physical checks.
	All food, whether imported into or produced in the UK, may be subject to checks "inland" at food premises by local authorities.

Food Standards Agency

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans the Food Standards Agency has to publish literature in support of its Balance of Good Health initiative;
	(2)  how much the Food Standards Agency spent on the Balance of Good Health campaign.

Hazel Blears: Since it was formed, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has spent £80,000 on the printing and distribution of the Balance of Good Health leaflet and poster. The FSA keeps the nutrition promotional material under ongoing review to ensure its relevance to consumers and health professionals. The FSA has no plans at present to publish new literature based on the Balance of Good Health concept.

Framework Convention for Tobacco Control

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department is having with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on (a) the contents of and (b) international support for the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control.

Hazel Blears: The Government have participated in negotiations on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and have sought views on the content of this Convention from other Departments, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, throughout the negotiating process. Officials are in contact with those in Brussels and Geneva and with embassies in those countries which have concerns with the text, to work towards satisfactory adoption of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control at the World Health Assembly later this month.

Framework Convention for Tobacco Control

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he is having with (a) the British Medical Association, (b) his European counterparts and (c) others regarding international measures to reduce smoking.

Hazel Blears: The Department has received representations from the British Medical Association and others in support of international measures to reduce smoking. In particular, recent representations have focused on the draft Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which is due to be adopted at the World Health Assembly later this month. Discussions within the European Union are focused on preparing a common position in support of the adoption of the Convention at the World Health Assembly. As part of this, my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Health, has discussed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control with a German Health Minister. The Government have been firmly supportive of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, as have most other EU countries.

Fuel Poverty

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned on how many (a) women aged 60 and over and (b) men aged 65 and over, in each year since 1997, have died due to the effects of fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Causes of death in older people are complex and multi-factorial. It is not possible to isolate the possible contributory role of fuel poverty from other potential contributory factors in the deaths of older people. However, links have been established between damp, cold housing and deaths and the physiological effects of cold and increased ill health are well documented. It is recognised that older people are particularly vulnerable but given the lack of scientific evidence and the complexity of other possible contributory factors, it is not possible to provide accurate figures relating to deaths due to fuel poverty.
	The Department of Health, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are supporting a two-year research project into the impact of fuel poverty interventions on health. The project is evaluating the impact of Warm Front initiatives on mental and physical health and the risk of cold-related death. It is also identifying the potential of energy efficient measures to improve the health and quality of life of householders and assessing the impact of fuel poverty interventions on the use of health care services. A report is expected later this year.

GPs

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of patients allocated to GP practice lists in the Havering primary care trust area is; how many GP practices have list sizes higher than the national average; which practices these are; and what the size of the list is in each case.

John Hutton: Information on the average number of patients allocated to general practitioner practice lists in the Havering primary care trust area are shown in the table.
	Overall, 44 of the 54 GP partnerships in Havering PCT have an average list size greater than the England average of 1,841. We are not able to provide information on which individual practices have list sizes higher than the national average and what the size of the list is in each case. The GP census data held by the Department are collected for the purposes of research and statistics, as defined by section 33 of the Data Protection Act 1998. As such, we are unable to release identifiable data on GPs where it is possible the data could be used for purposes other than research and statistics.

Hepatology Services

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to identify and treat individuals who are Hepatitis C positive.

Hazel Blears: Our consultation paper, "Hepatitis C Strategy for England", proposes that patients at increased risk of infection or with otherwise unexplained liver disease should be offered testing for hepatitis C. The strategy also recognises the need to strengthen services for assessing and treating patients with hepatitis C, in accordance with guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
	We shall be publishing an action plan in the next few months to take forward implementation of the strategy.

Hepatology Services

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what priority is given to hepatology services under the NHS Plan.

Hazel Blears: The NHS Plan sets out a framework for the provision of comprehensive and high quality services to tackle a wide range of conditions and diseases, including liver disease, backed up by a sustained programme of investment and reform.
	In line with Shifting the Balance of Power, it is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to determine the local priority given to hepatology services according to local needs. We have published a national specialised services definitions set for hepatology services to assist PCT commissioners. Our consultation paper, 'Hepatitis C Strategy for England', proposes the development of managed clinical networks to assess and treat patients with hepatitis C, in accordance with guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. We will publish an action plan to take forward implementation of the strategy in the next few months.

Hepatology Services

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets he has to (a) increase awareness of liver disease and (b) reduce the impact of liver disease.

Hazel Blears: Our consultation paper, 'Hepatitis C Strategy for England', proposes increasing professional and public awareness of hepatitis C to underpin improvements in services for its prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The strategy suggests national outcome indicators that will be used to track progress, along with enhanced epidemiological surveillance.
	In the next few months, we will be publishing an action plan on blood-borne viruses, as proposed in the Chief Medical Officer's infectious disease strategy, 'Getting Ahead of the Curve', to take forward implementation of the hepatitis C strategy and to identify action needed to strengthen measures to prevent and control hepatitis B.
	Alcohol misuse is linked to cirrhosis of the liver. The Government are committed to tackling the harm caused by alcohol misuse, and will be implementing the national alcohol harm reduction strategy by 2004.

Hepatology Services

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of regional disparities in the delivery of hepatology services.

Hazel Blears: We have not made such an assessment. However, we are aware that the University of Southampton has recently carried out a survey of the organisation and delivery of services for hepatitis C on behalf of the British Association for the Study of the Liver, the British Society for Gastroenterology (Liver Section) and the British Liver Trust. We understand that the results of the study will be published in due course.

Hepatology Services

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the relative costs of a health policy of (a) applying treatment to hepatitis C positive cohorts as they present to health services and (b) applying treatment to the hepatitis C positive population actively identified by mass screening.

Hazel Blears: We have not made such an assessment. Our consultation paper, 'Hepatitis C Strategy for England', recognises the need to improve diagnosis of hepatitis C in those at risk of infection so that they are referred for specialist assessment and treatment in accordance with guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
	Mass population screening for hepatitis C is not justified because of the relatively low prevalence of infection in this country, which is concentrated in groups at increased risk of infection, such as injecting drug users. Targeted screening of individuals at increased risk of infection is in line with international consensus statements from the World Health Organisation and the European Association for the Study of the Liver.
	We will be publishing an action plan to underpin implementation of the strategy in the next few months.

Housing Benefit

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the loss of entitlement to housing benefit by people with learning disabilities whose accommodation has been registered by the National Care Standards Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I have received three representations regarding people with learning disabilities who may lose entitlement to housing benefit as a result of their accommodation being registered as a care home by the National Care Standards Commission.

Mental Health

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure that mental health patients are given information about (a) the treatment and medication available to them and (b) the opportunity to choose which course of treatment or medication to take.

Jacqui Smith: People of working age who are in contact with specialist mental health and social care services have all aspects of their care and treatment, including after care, co-ordinated under the care programme approach.
	All people under the care programme approach have the right to a thorough assessment of their needs, the development of a care plan and a review of that care by the professionals involved in their care.
	Care plans should provide information about the patient's condition, treatment, and steps to be taken in an emergency. It is envisaged that care plans should be drawn up with the involvement of the service users, and where appropriate, their carer. Service users should be given the opportunity to sign the agreed care plan and receive a copy. Any refusal to accept treatment or medication should be noted in the care plan along with the service user's reasons for refusal.
	Any local audit of the care programme approach will need to include the views of service users, who should be given the opportunity to contribute to the setting of quality standards and measures.

Milk Tokens

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many milk tokens have been issued to qualifying families with the child tax credit to date.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 15 May 2003
	No milk tokens have been distributed yet. The volume of applications received by the Inland Revenue for new tax credits has delayed the distribution of milk tokens to families who qualify through child tax credit. We are working with the Inland Revenue to ensure that milk tokens are distributed as soon as possible. Those people eligible for this scheme will receive a cheque as a cash payment for any backdated entitlement.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the NICE guidelines are for the use of biologic drugs as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis; and when the NICE Committee will next meet to discuss the use of such drugs as an early treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 May 2003
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published guidance on biologic drugs as a treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in March 2002 entitled "Guidance on the use of etanercept and infliximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis". The full guidance can be found on the NICE website at http://www.nice.org.uk/pdf/RA-PDF.pdf.
	NICE is due to review the guidance in March 2005. Neither etanercept nor infliximab are licensed for the early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and so will not be considered for this indication.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the local government of Havering regarding contingency plans in the event of an outbreak of SARS in that area.

Hazel Blears: All regions have existing plans in place for dealing with outbreaks of communicable diseases. There is also a national communicable disease outbreak and incident plan in preparation. As we learn more about severe acute respiratory syndrome we will be reviewing all contingency plans. It is important to stress that this is an evolving situation and we are constantly reviewing our plans as we learn more about the disease.

Suicide

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what resources he will make available for the provision of services to people bereaved by suicide;
	(2)  what plans he has to promote services that support individuals bereaved as a result of suicide.

Jacqui Smith: We are working with a range of relevant organisations to develop a support pack for people in contact with families bereaved by suicide—such as general practitioners, the police and religious leaders—as part of our work to implement the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England.
	We have, in addition, published a national service framework for mental health and set targets through the planning and priorities framework that are designed to improve access to a range of effective treatment and care and improve the quality of services for all those who need them, whatever the reasons for their need, based on an individual assessment, free at the point of contact. We have also published an evidence-based guideline on treatment choice in psychological therapies and counselling for referrers, and a booklet for service users to help them know the questions to ask.

Suicide

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources will be made available for the development of (a) local and (b) national suicide prevention strategies.

Jacqui Smith: A key objective of the mental health modernisation programme is to deliver on the targets outlined in the national service framework for mental health and the NHS Plan. The NHS Plan provides an extra investment in mental health of over £300 million by 2003–04, which includes resources to enable us to meet our commitment to reduce the mortality rate by suicide and undetermined injury by at least 20 per cent. by 2010. In addition, resources will be made available both centrally and through the National Institute for Mental Health in England's eight development centres for specific pieces of work to help implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Whistleblowers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on procedures for protecting whistleblowers in the national health service.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Linda Perham) on 19 May 2003.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Agency Offices (Sign Language)

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees in benefit agency offices are qualified as British Sign Language interpreters; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive, Clare Dodgson. I have asked her to reply to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Clare Dodgson to Mr. Gibb, dated 20 May 2003
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of employees in benefit agency offices who are qualified as British Sign Language interpreters. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of the Agency.
	The working age parts of the Benefits Agency became part of Jobcentre Plus in April 2002. Some Jobcentre Plus offices include staff who have received training in British Sign Language, but we do not currently collect information on their numbers.
	The Jobcentre Plus Customer Charter states that a British Sign Language Interpreter or other suitable communicator will be provided when needed. In addition all Districts have a textphone service available. The textphone number for each District is included in all their customer correspondence.
	Obtaining figures on the numbers and the level to which people have been trained in both Jobcentre Plus and the Department for Work and Pensions as a whole will be incorporated as one of the initiatives we are planning as part of the European Year of Disabled People.
	I hope this is helpful.

Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) of 6 May 2003, Official Report, columns 544–45W, on benefits, what steps he has taken to inform customers who use a casual agent to collect their benefit that they will have the option of keeping their order books; and for how long he expects this arrangement to remain in place.

Malcolm Wicks: All customers will be supplied with information on all of the account options available to them. This will enable them to choose the most suitable account for their needs and circumstances.
	Those customers who feel that the account options available do not meet their particular needs should contact the Customer Conversion Centre on the freephone number, provided in their invitation letter, to discuss their circumstances.
	Order books are being phased out and will no longer be available after 2005. We are currently developing an alternative payment method to pay the small number of customers who are unable to open or manage an account.

Brain Injury Rehabilitation (North-East)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many places he commissioned at the Rehab UK brain injury rehabilitation centre in the North-East in each of the last three full financial years; how many places were allocated this year; and how many are planned for 2003–04.

Nick Brown: Jobcentre Plus has a contract with Rehab UK to provide Work Preparation programmes for people with brain injuries. This provision is not commissioned in terms of a set number of places, but is purchased as and when required up to the financial limit of the contract.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Number of places accessed 
		
		
			 1999–2000 6 
			 2000–01 21 
			 2001–02 29 
			 2002–03 23 
			 2003–04(16) 23 
		
	
	(16) Estimated
	Note:
	Spending on this provision increased by 23 per cent. in 2002–03 when compared with the previous year. However, because of a sharp rise (84.5 per cent.) in the unit cost of places at the Tyne and Wear centre, the number of customers accessing this provision fell.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus management information

Incapacity Benefit

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to encourage persons on incapacity benefit to maximise their overall benefits (a) after 28 weeks, when incapacity benefit is increased to the short-term higher rate and (b) after 52 weeks, when a claimant becomes entitled to a disability premium on income support.

Nick Brown: The Department administers benefits in accordance with the law.
	Procedures are in place to help ensure that people in receipt of Incapacity Benefit (IB) do not miss out on the support they are entitled to. People with special care needs, or because other special rules apply, may qualify for both the long-term rate of IB and the Income Support Disability Premium after 28 weeks instead of 52. People are contacted in advance of their 28th week of incapacity to check whether they have any such entitlement.
	Where Income Support is disallowed at the start of an IB claim, but a person would potentially be entitled after 52 weeks because they satisfy the conditions of the Disability Premium, a letter is issued advising them to make a claim shortly before the end of the qualifying period.

Incapacity Benefit

David Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what percentage of those claiming long-term incapacity benefit (a) also claim home support and (b) are estimated also to be entitled to income support;
	(2)  what percentage of those claiming short-term lower rate and incapacity benefit (a) also claim income support and (b) are estimated also to be entitled to income support.

Nick Brown: The available information is in the table. Numbers claiming both Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Income Support (IS) at November 2002, broken down by rate.
	
		Numbers claiming both Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Income Support (IS) at November 2002, broken down by rate
		
			  People claiming IB People claiming IB who are also in receiptof IS Proportion of people claiming IB who are also in receipt of IS (Percentage) 
		
		
			 IB Short Term Lower rate 91,300 28,200 30.9 
			 IB Short Term Higher rate 89,300 14,400 16.1 
			 IB Long Term rate 1,334,900 272,700 20.4 
			 IB credits only 868,700 741,800 85.4 
			 Total 2,384,200 1,057,100 44.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and are subject to a degree of sampling variation
	2. No estimate is available of the number of people claiming Incapacity Benefit who would also be eligible for Income Support
	Source:
	Figures are based on 5 per cent samples of the Incapacity Benefit and Income Support computer systems and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.

Incapacity Benefit

David Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what percentage of those claiming short-term higher rate incapacity benefit are receiving free prescriptions because they have completed an HC1 form; and what steps the Government are taking to inform people about the availability of free prescriptions in those circumstances;
	(2)  how many people are not entitled to free prescriptions because they are receiving long-term incapacity benefit plus the age addition for 35 to 44 year olds.

Nick Brown: The information is not available.
	Information about the arrangements for providing help with NHS prescription charges and other health costs is provided in leaflet HC11 "Are you entitled to help with health costs?", which is available from main post offices, Jobcentres, social security offices, NHS hospitals and elsewhere. This leaflet and further information about help with health costs is also available through the Department of Health's website at: www.doh.gov.uk/nhscharges/index.htm.

Jobcentre Plus

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the future of Jobcentre Plus; and what plans he has that will affect (a) the staff and (b) the level of service they offer the public;
	(2)  what plans he has to alter the number of people who work in Jobcentre Plus in Portsmouth in the next 12 months;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the level of service available to the people of Portsmouth from Jobcentre Plus; and what changes he expects to see in the level of service in the next 12 months.

Nick Brown: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive, Clare Dodgson. I have asked her to reply to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Clare Dodgson to Mr. Hancock, dated 20 May 2003
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, I have been asked to reply to your questions concerning Jobcentre Plus service delivery. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of the Agency.
	Jobcentre Plus has been established to deliver a radical change in the way that benefits and employment services are provided to people of working age. By 2006, we plan to introduce a network of around 1,000 fully integrated Jobcentre Plus offices.
	Through the development of these new modern offices, Jobcentre Plus will provide an integrated, work-focused service to all people of working age. The introduction of work-focused interviews is extending the opportunity to more people to take advantage of the help, guidance and support we can provide to assist them to move into sustainable employment. We are also introducing new services for employers, which will help them fill vacancies more quickly with well-prepared and motivated employees.
	In all our plans we have focused on the needs of our customers. The new offices will offer customers a seamless service, where they will be able to make enquiries about their benefit entitlement, and the training and employment opportunities available to them, under one roof. Alternatively, customers can choose to telephone one of our contact centres to make inquiries without having to come into one of our offices. The introduction of new technology is also enabling people to find the information they need about jobs and training via the internet and our touch screen Jobpoints. These facilities are making it easier for our customers to access the services we provide.
	Our staff are also benefiting from the introduction of Jobcentre Plus. The refurbished offices are providing a professional, modern environment in which to work and work-focused interviews afford the opportunity for greater job satisfaction through delivering advice and guidance on work, training and benefits to a broader range of people.
	As at 2 May 2003, we had opened 258 new Jobcentre Plus offices and have set out our plans to introduce the Jobcentre Plus model across Great Britain by 2006. I would like to assure you however that we will not open an office unless we are confident that it provides an environment in which the new Jobcentre Plus services will work and one that is safe for our customers and staff. Throughout this transitional period our social security offices and Jobcentres are working together to ensure that customers still benefit from a high standard of service.
	Jobcentre Plus will be introduced in Portsmouth during mid 2004. Partners and stakeholders were consulted about these plans in June and September 2002. Their comments are currently being taken into consideration in reaching final decisions, which have yet to be announced.
	Currently, services are being offered at Portsmouth Central Jobcentre, Portsmouth North Jobcentre, Guildhall Walk Social Security Office. These offices are not large enough to accommodate the integrated services of Jobcentre Plus, nor do they have the capacity for expansion. Suitable premises are being identified, which will have the capability to deliver the enhanced services to Portsmouth customers. I can give you my assurance that customers will continue to receive a high level of service during implementation and beyond. I can also confirm that we are not planning any reduction in the numbers of Jobcentre Plus staff in Portsmouth.
	The introduction of Jobcentre Plus is being well received by our customers. In national surveys we have found that eight out of 10 customers are satisfied with all elements of the new service. Jobcentre Plus performance has improved as a result of the roll-out, with integrated offices exceeding their share of national performance and exceeding their specific job entry targets by over 10%.
	I hope this is helpful.

Post Office Card Accounts

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what limit there is on the amount of money that can be held in a Post Office card account; whether there is a requirement to withdraw funds from a Post Office card account; whether interest is payable on balances in Post Office card accounts, and in what circumstances; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 19 May 2003
	There is no limit on the amount of money that can be held in a Post Office card account, the minimum balance is £0 (zero pounds and zero pence). There is no requirement on customers to withdraw funds from their account nor do the accounts attract interest.

Post Office Card Accounts

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what limit or other restriction there is on the amount of money which may be withdrawn from a Post Office card account by an agent of the account holder; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 19 May 2003
	A Third Party, who has been formally authorised to have access to the Account Holder's Post Office card account will be able to withdraw all, or part of the Account Holder's Post Office card account monies.
	The minimum withdrawal amount is 1p (one penny). The maximum withdrawal amount is limited to the monies available in the account. However, there is a daily limit on withdrawals of £600.00 (six hundred pounds). Withdrawals greater than £600 may be subject to up to three working days notice.

Post Office Card Accounts

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) of 1 April 2003, Official Report, column 607W, on post office card accounts, if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which an alternative method of payment to replace the exception scheme will be put in place (a) nationally and (b) in individual cases; and whether (i) his Department and (ii) individual customers may require the alternative method to be used;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) of 1 April 2003, Official Report, column 606W, on Post Office card accounts, what the nature is of the alternative method of payment referred to; what assessment he has made of when it will be required; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 19 May 2003
	We have always recognised that there will be a small group of people who we cannot pay directly into an account. An alternative method will be developed to pay this group. The alternative arrangements do not need to be available for some time, as customers for whom the new arrangements are not suitable will, for the present, be able to keep their order book. Order books are being phased out and will no longer be available after 2005.
	We are currently developing an alternative payment method to pay customers who are unable to open or manage an account.

Post Office Card Accounts

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) of 1 April 2003, Official Report, column 607W, on Post Office card accounts, what procedure will be adopted for an individual customer to require that his benefit is paid by an alternative method of payment other than direct payment; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 19 May 2003
	The Government's information campaign, to support the move to Direct Payment, provides customers with factual information on the banking options available to them, including information on the Post Office card account. We will write directly to all customers affected by the change to provide them with the information they need to decide which option is best for them. The information is presented in a way that enables customers to decide which option is best for their individual circumstances.
	There is no question of people not being able to get their money. Those customers who feel that the account options available do not meet their particular needs should contact the Customer Conversion Centre on the freephone number provided to discuss their needs and circumstances.
	Where customers genuinely are unable to manage an account they will be advised that, in the short term, they can retain their order book. However, order books are being phased out and will no longer be available after 2005.
	We are currently developing an alternative payment method to pay the small number of customers who are unable to open or manage an account.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many jailed asylum seekers from Somalia have been deported in each of the past six months.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the nationality of people who have been deported or are removed is not available and can only be obtained by examining individual case files at disproportionate cost.

Asylum Seekers

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) asylum seekers and (b) children of asylum seekers are detained in the UK.

Beverley Hughes: The latest available information on the number of asylum seekers in detention is for 28 December 2002. At that date 795 people held in detention solely under Immigration Act powers were recorded as having sought asylum at some stage.
	Although statistics on the detention of asylum seekers include minors they have not hither too been separately identified. Work is being undertaken to extend the range of data routinely collected on the detention of asylum seekers.
	Dungavel, Harmondsworth, Oakington and Tinsley House are the only Immigration Service Removal Centres that have accommodation for families with children.
	A one-off exercise was carried out on 2 April 2003 to assess the number of children under the age of 18 detained with their families in these centres, the results of which are contained in the table.
	
		
			 Immigration Service RemovalCentre Children under 18 years of age in detention at 2 April 2003 
		
		
			 Dungavel 21 
			 Harmondsworth 18 
			 Oakington 14 
			 Tinsley 3 
			 Total 56 
		
	
	Minors are detained only in two limited circumstances: first, as part of a family group whose detention is considered appropriate; second, when unaccompanied, while alternative care arrangements are made and normally just overnight.
	More detailed information on those in detention at March 29 2003 is due to be published in May on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnew1.html.

BB Guns

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what controls there are on the (a) purchase and (b) use of BB guns by children; and what controls he plans to introduce on the (i) sale and (ii) use of BB guns by children.

Bob Ainsworth: BB, or more accurately airsoft, guns are low powered, non-lethal air weapons and as such their sale is not controlled under the provisions of the Firearms Act 1968.
	To the extent they are an imitation firearm they are subject to the provisions of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1994. This makes it an offence to threaten other people with an imitation firearm in such a way as to cause them to believe that unlawful violence might be used against them.
	We are aware that some young people have taken to carrying replica firearms, including airsoft weapons, to impress their friends and intimidate others. Because of this we are introducing, in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, a new offence of having an imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

C-Far Project

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding his Department has provided to the C-Far project in Highampton, Devon.

Paul Goggins: The National Probation Service and the Prison Service have agreed to make £150,000 available to C-FAR for this financial year (subject to confirmation of health and safety standards). This is in addition to the £20,000 previously set aside to assist with the cost of the independent evaluation of the 'Life Change' programme operated by C-FAR. Of this, a payment of £10,000 has already been made by the Prison Service in 2002. The remaining £10,000 from the National Probation Service was subject to progress with the independent evaluation and will be paid shortly. C-FAR also received a payment of £150,000 from the Criminal Justice System Reserve in 2001–02 as a contribution to the continuing costs of the programme.

Cash Seizure Powers

George Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much cash has been seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 since the new cash seizure powers took effect; and how much was seized under previous legislation in each of the preceding five years.

Bob Ainsworth: The value of cash seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 since the new cash seizure powers took effect on 30 December 2002 is £19.6 million (as at 11 May 2003). The value of cash seized under previous legislation for the preceding five years has not been recorded centrally. However, the value of cash forfeitures for the entire period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 2003 was £14.95 million.

Cleveland Police

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers additional to the complement on 1 May 1997 have been appointed to Cleveland police force in each year since then.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is set out in the table. Police strength details are not collected in May.
	
		
			 Year(as at 31 March) Police strength(17) Change police in strength Civilian support staff strength(17) Change in civilian strength 
		
		
			 1997 1,459 — 609 — 
			 1998 1,483 +24 586 -23 
			 1999 1,416 -67 552 -34 
			 2000 1,404 -12 595 +43 
			 2001 1,407 +3 586 -9 
			 2002 1,461 +54 626 +40 
			 2002 (30 Sept) 1,488 +27 (18)— — 
		
	
	(17) Full-time equivalent strength
	(18) Not available
	Between March 1997 and September 2002 the force had an overall increase of 29 police officers. Between March 1997 and March 2002 there was an overall increase of 17 civilian staff.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the total current annual remuneration is of (a) the Chairman and (b) the Chief Executive of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panels;
	(2)  what the total annual remuneration is of (a) the Chairman and (b) the Chief Executive of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in 2003.

Paul Goggins: In the financial year ending 31 March 2003 the total taxable pay of the relevant officials was:
	Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel:
	Chairman £66,762 (Based on 3/5 rate for a District Circuit Judge)
	Chief Executive £50,953 (Civil Service Grade 6)
	Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority:
	Chairman—There is no such post
	Chief Executive £60,419 (Member of the Senior Civil Service)

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the criteria are for appointment as (a) a member and (b) a chairman of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panels; if he will list the qualifications of those currently appointed; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Recruitment to the Appeals Panel is by open competition. Whenever recruitment exercises are undertaken, the fact is advertised widely in the national press. The advertisements make it clear that candidates' suitability for the posts will be indicated by their high level of achievement, for example, through a successful senior career in law, medicine, commerce, management or public service. The advertisements make it clear that candidates will need well-developed skills of analysis and judgment, and to have good communications skills. All short-listed candidates are interviewed by a selection panel in accordance with guidelines issues by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
	All panel members are given the opportunity to apply for the post of chair when it falls vacant. The successful candidate must demonstrate to the selection board that he or she possesses the range of qualities and competencies needed for such a position.
	Brief CVs of all panel members, summarising their qualifications and experience, are given in an annex to the panel's annual report, copies of which are placed in the Library.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average award made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panels (CICAP) was in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what the budget for the CICAP has been in each of the last five financial years.

Paul Goggins: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel does not itself pay awards of compensation, and does not therefore have a separate budget for such expenditure. All awards of compensation, whether made by the Compensation Authority or the Appeals Panel, are paid by the Compensation Authority, which controls the compensation budget.
	The table accordingly details the average value of awards which the Appeals Panel has authorised the Authority to pay under the tariff-based scheme in the five years to 31 March 2003. The figures for the final year are provisional, and subject to audit.
	
		
			 Financial year Average award authorised by CICAP under the tariff-based scheme (£) 
		
		
			 1998–99 3,165 
			 1999–2000 3,207 
			 2000–01 4,046 
			 2001–02 4,392 
			 2002–03 6,843

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was (a) the average award made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and (b) the total sum paid in criminal injuries compensation in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The table shows the average award made by Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) under the tariff-based scheme effective for all applications lodged on or after 1 April 1996, the average award paid by CICA under both that tariff-based and the former common law damages based scheme which it superseded, and the total amount of compensation paid under both schemes.
	
		
			 Financial year Average award made by CICA under the tariff scheme (£) Average award paid by CICA under both the tariff scheme and the old scheme (£) Total sum paid in compensation (£ million) 
		
		
			 1998–99 2,762 4,203 194 
			 1999–2000 2,904 4,737 206 
			 2000–01 3,001 5,270 206 
			 2001–02 3,702 5,640 233 
			 2002–03 3,717 5,432 232 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures for 2002–03 are provisional, and subject to audit.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total budget allocated for criminal injuries compensation was in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The table shows the budget estimate figure for compensation as recorded in the spring supplementary estimates. The figures for the first three years are cash-based; those for the last two are resource-based.
	
		£ million
		
			 Financial year Compensation budget (rounded)  
		
		
			 1998–99 207 
			 1999–2000 229 
			 2000–01 194 
			 2001–02 214 
			 2002–03 208

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will commission and publish an independent review of the work of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority;
	(2)  if he will commission and publish an independent review of the work of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panels.

Paul Goggins: The Comptroller and Auditor General published a report on "Compensating Victims of Violent Crime" on 14 April 2000, covering the work of the Compensation Agency and Appeals Panel.
	Although Ministers do not get involved in the day to day running of these bodies, we do maintain regular contact with them, and keep their overall performance under review on a continuing basis. We see no value in commissioning any special independent reviews at this juncture.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for compensation rejected by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority were referred to the CIC Appeals Panel in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many of these were successful.

Paul Goggins: The data in the attached table have been provided by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
	
		Appeals submitted against refusal decisions by the CICA and the outcomes of such appeals determined in the same year
		
			  Appealed Rejection Award Total 
		
		
			 2002–03 3,827 1,247 1,235 2,482 
			 2001–02 3,269 1,765 1,721 3,486 
			 2000–01 4,043 1,687 1,753 3,440 
			 1999–2000 5,983 1,423 1,487 2,910 
			 1998–99 5,582 943 813 1,756

Criminal Offences

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 8 April 2003, Official Report, column 206W, on criminal offences, how many individuals have been convicted under each of the new offences cited.

Paul Goggins: The available information is contained in a table which has been placed in the Library and relates to defendants convicted under each of the new offences cited in the answer given by the former Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Hilary Benn) on 8 April 2003, Official Report, column 206W, on criminal offences, where these can be separately identified on the Home Office Court Proceedings database.
	Statistics on defendants convicted under the statutes coming into force from 1 January 2002 will be in the autumn.
	The Government are focusing on what matters to the public such as driving down burglary and robbery rates, tackling racist crime and anti-social behaviour, providing record police numbers and reforming the criminal justice system.
	Many offences are designed to act as a deterrent and send a clear signal that such behaviour will not be tolerated. It is therefore too simplistic to draw conclusions about the success or otherwise of offences purely on conviction rates.
	Furthermore, the impact of the offences covered in this answer cannot be accurately gauged given that conviction rates are shown up until 2001 but many of the offences listed did not come into force until 2001 or 2002.

Deportations

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals, broken down by nationality, have been served with deportation orders on the basis that their removal from the UK was (a) conducive to the public good and (b) conducive to the public good as a consequence of a criminal conviction, in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The number of foreign nationals served with deportation orders on the basis that (a) their removals was conducive to the public good and (b) following a court recommendation in each year from 1997 is given in the table. Information on the nationalities of those people served with deportation orders is not available.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(19) 
		
		
			  Conducive to the public good(20)
			 Deportation orders made 110 120 85 175 n/a 
			   
			  Following court recommendation(21)
			 Deportation orders made 270 280 250 335 n/a 
		
	
	(19) Due to data quality issues information on deportation orders made is not available for 2001.
	(20) Under section 3(5)(b) of the immigration act 1971.
	(21) Under section 3(6) of the immigration act 1971.

Deportations

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there are specified offences which, if committed by a foreign national, would trigger deportation proceedings on the basis that their removal from the UK was conducive to the public good; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We will normally consider taking deportation action where someone subject to immigration control has been convicted of an offence under the Immigration Acts, any offence of violence against the person or any drugs offence, or any other offence where a custodial sentence of 12 months or more has been imposed. Deportation is not automatic, however, and each case is considered in the light of the individual circumstances.

Deportations

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors are taken into consideration when a decision is taken to serve a deportation order on a foreign national on the grounds that his removal from the UK would be conducive to the public good.

Beverley Hughes: The principal factors which are taken into account when deciding whether or not to deport someone are set out in paragraph 364 of the Immigration Rules. In considering whether deportation is the right course on the merits, the public interest, including, where applicable, any national security implications, will be balanced against any compassionate circumstances of the case.

Drug Offences

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 29 April 2003, Official Report, column 354W, on drugs, if he will provide a breakdown of offences by substance.

Bob Ainsworth: Recorded crime data collated centrally on drug offences do not include information on the types of drugs involved. At the time of recording a drug offence the type of substance is not necessarily known by the police and it may be have to be submitted for forensic analysis.
	However, this information is available for known drug offenders and is reported in the Home Office statistical bulletin "Drug seizure and offender statistics, United Kingdom". Copies are available in the Library. The latest year for which figures are currently available is 2000 and Tables S2.16 to S2.29A of the Supplementary Tables volume give detailed breakdowns.

Extradition

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which countries the UK does not have an extradition agreement.

Bob Ainsworth: Details of the United Kingdom's extradition arrangements are not readily available on this basis. Those countries with whom the UK does have general extradition arrangements are listed in the table.
	In addition, the Extradition Act 1989 enables special extradition arrangements to be made, in individual cases, with states with whom the UK has no general extradition arrangements. The UK is also a party to a number of international conventions which allow for the extradition of fugitives between ratifying states for specific offences, in the absence of general extradition arrangements.
	Commonwealth countries which have been Designated by Order in Council under section 5(1) of the Extradition Act 1989
	Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Dominica, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tonga, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
	British Overseas Territories to whom the Extradition Act 1989 applies
	Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, St. Helena and St. Helena Dependencies, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, The UK Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Cyprus), British Virgin Islands.
	Parties to the European Convention on Extradition (ECE) of 1957 which are designated by Order in Council under section 4(1) of the Extradition Act 1989
	Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia (The Former Yugoslav Republic of), Malta, Moldova, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine.
	
		Countries with Bilateral Extradition Treaties with the United Kingdom (with date of entry into force)
		
			  Date 
		
		
			 Argentina 1894 
			 Bolivia 1898 
			 Bosnia/Herzegovina 1901 
			 Brazil 1997 
			 Chile 1898 
			 Colombia 1889 
			 Cuba 1905 
			 Ecuador 1886 
			 El Salvador 1882 
			 Guatemala 1886 
			 Haiti 1876 
			 Iraq 1933 
			 Liberia 1894 
			 Mexico 1889 
			 Monaco 1892 
			 Nicaragua 1906 
			 Panama 1907 
			 Paraguay 1911 
			 Peru 1907 
			 San Marino 1900 
			 Thailand 1911 
			 Uruguay 1885 
			 USA 1976, 1986 
		
	
	Other Arrangements
	1. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: Extradition arrangements with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are under the Extradition Act 1989 as amended by The Hong Kong (Extradition) Order 1997.
	2. Republic of Ireland. Extradition Arrangements with the Republic of Ireland are under the Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965.

Faith Communities Working Group

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) terms of reference and (b) membership for the Home Office Working Group looking at the relationship between the Government and faith communities are.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 16 May 2003
	The terms of reference of the Working Group are as follows:
	(i) To map and assess existing arrangements and mechanisms for consultation between Government Departments and the faith communities, both in relation to one- off state events and in relation to long-term policy development by Departments, and identify good practice;
	(ii) To carry out an exercise in order to establish which faith community bodies are sufficiently representative of the respective faith communities, and accountable to them, to provide an effective route for consultation by Government. This will include consideration of how young people and women from the faith communities are represented;
	(iii) To prepare a report setting out the findings of the mapping exercise and research project, and recommending improvements or new mechanisms if required;
	(iv) To draft guidelines for Government Departments on how best to consult the faith communities; and
	(v) To submit the draft report and guidelines to the Steering Group for consideration and eventual sign-off by the end of December 2003.
	The Religious Issues Section of the Race Equality Unit within the Home Office provides the Secretariat for the Group, which also includes representatives of the Lord Chancellor's Department, Prison Service, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for Education and Skills, Department of Trade and Industry and the Inner Cities Religious Council within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; and the Director of the Inter Faith Network for the UK. The faith community representatives are Canon Michael Ipgrave, Mr. Mark Sturge, Dr. Basil Mustafa (alternates with Mrs Uneiza Malik), Mr. Ishwer Tailor, Dr. Indarjit Singh OBE, Mr. Neville Nagler and Mr. Paul Seto.

Gun Crime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police officers in the UK are armed; and what proportion were armed in (a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987, (d) 1993, (e) 1997 and (f) 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: It is not possible to provide accurate figures in the form requested. However, the number of authorised firearms officers (AFOs) in police forces in England and Wales for years 1994–2001 are shown in the table. The figures do not take into account the more effective use and better training of authorised firearms officers.
	
		
			  Number of authorisedfirearms officers (AFOs) 
		
		
			 1994–95 6,837 
			 1995–96 6,554 
			 1996–97 6,738 
			 1997–98 6,585 
			 1998–99 6,308 
			 1999–2000 6,262 
			 2000–01 6,064

Immigration Rules

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish his planned changes to the immigration rules.

Beverley Hughes: A number of changes were made to the immigration rules on 1 April this year, including amendments to the marriage rules, the incorporation into the rules of the de facto adoption concession and the introduction of the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.
	It is not always possible to predict, and publish in advance, what changes will be made to the immigration rules. Changes are made as and when necessary to reflect changes in policy and to respond to specific issues. However, it is anticipated that a major immigration rules consolidation exercise will be undertaken later in the year, at which point further immigration concessions will be incorporated.

Inspectorates (Pay Costs)

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 21 March 2003, Official Report, column 453W, on Inspections (Police), what the total pay costs incurred by (a) Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, (b) the Police Standards Unit and (c) the Police Complaints Authority were in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The total pay costs incurred by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), the Police Standards Unit (PSU) and the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) are as follows:
	
		 million
		
			  HMIC PSU PCA 
		
		
			 199798 3.925 0 2.055 
			 199899 3.848 0 2.010 
			 19992000 3.749 0 2.079 
			 200001 4.425 0 2.107 
			 200102 5.657 0.427 2.589 
			 200203 5.768 1.056 3.007 
		
	
	Note:
	PSU did not come into existence until June 2001

Mosques

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further action his Department is taking to prevent vandalism to mosques in (a) London and (b) the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The vandalism of any place of worship, particularly when this stems from racial/religious hatred, is a despicable crime. The Government are committed to tackling hate crime, whatever form it takes.
	The criminal law already contains a wide range of powers to deal with these types of offences. This includes, under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the ability for courts to issue higher sentences to perpetrators of crimes motivated by racial or religious hatred.
	Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, where the value of criminal damage is more than 5,000, the maximum penalty for those aged 18 and over is 10 years whilst for juveniles aged 1217 it is a detention and training order of up to a 24 months.
	These measures send a clear message that the Government will not tolerate these types of crimes.
	The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), working with the Government, have also developed guidance for police forces on dealing with these types of crime. This guidance is entitled Identifying and Combating Hate Crime and was last updated in April 2002.
	Additionally, ACPO has produced an operational guide for the anagement of inter ethnic conflict, which will ultimately aim to improve officers ability to understand, communicate and interact with many diverse communities.

Motor Bikes

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motor bikes have been confiscated since the Police Reform Act 2002 came into force.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Motor Bikes

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Metropolitan Police to issue instructions to borough commanders to use the new powers to confiscate motor bikes under the Police Reform Act 2002 to combat anti-social behaviour.

Bob Ainsworth: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has told me that procedures for the use of powers under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, to seize vehicles being used in an anti-social manner, are currently the subject of internal consultation. Instructions to borough commanders are expected to be published in the form of a Police Notice by the summer.

Police Targets

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department offers to Chief Constables of Police concerning targets on (a) monthly and (b) annual basis for numbers of (i) arrests made and (ii) summonses issued.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 15 May 2003
	The matter of targets, either monthly or annual, on the number of arrests made or summonses issued, is not one on which the home office issues advice to Chief Constables. Such targets as are set are a matter for the Chief Constables in the light of the prevailing local circumstances within their force areas.

Policing Costs (May Demonstrations)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of policing the demonstrations in central London on 1 May.

Bob Ainsworth: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that a full assessment of the final costs of policing the demonstrations on 1 May is still in progress. I will write to the hon. Member with further details in due course.

Terrorist Profiling

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take in response to the recommendation adopted at the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels on 2829 November 2002 in relation to terrorist profiling; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The UK fully supported this Danish EU Presidency initiative and took an active part in a successful seminar on the subject held in Copenhagen in January. Although this project is still in its early stages, I understand that the seminar raised some interesting issues and the UK has volunteered to participate in a pilot group comprising experts from a number of EU member states and Europol with the aim of further developing this initiative.

Vehicle Theft

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) reported thefts and (b) convictions for theft of (i) motor cars and (ii) motorcycles there were in each police authority in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: The available information is contained in the table. The recorded crime figures cover the offences of aggravated vehicle taking and theft and unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle. The figures of persons convicted include the offence of being carried knowing motor vehicle to have been taken or driven away, in addition.
	A distinction between motor cars and motor cycles is not available in the statistics collected centrally.
	Court proceedings statistics for 2002 will be available in the autumn and recorded crime figures for 200203 in July.
	
		Theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle (including aggravated vehicle taking)(22)recorded crime, 1997 to 200102, and persons convicted 1997 to 2001, by police force area
		
			  Recorded crime Persons convicted(23) 
			 Police force area 1997(24) 199899(25) 19992000 200001(26) 200102(26) 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 12,636 11,257 10,953 10,430 12,181 298 277 342 337 345 
			 Bedfordshire 4,486 4,280 4,531 4,114 3,872 200 174 194 196 171 
			 Cambridgeshire 5,029 3,934 3,596 2,975 2,941 150 151 164 133 117 
			 Cheshire 5,307 4,955 4,594 4,665 4,625 264 214 211 194 144 
			 Cleveland 5,807 4,707 4,402 4,536 4,797 238 222 260 217 220 
			 Cumbria 1,603 1,582 1,373 1,151 1,121 115 134 125 125 114 
			 Derbyshire 6,903 6,298 5,472 4,177 3,832 235 237 197 184 179 
			 Devon and Cornwall 5,275 4,864 4,366 3,807 3,392 243 258 294 202 201 
			 Dorset 3,219 2,963 2,998 2,609 2,499 143 99 121 90 98 
			 Durham 4,973 4,345 3,605 2,951 2,596 182 196 225 195 129 
			 Essex 7,509 7,414 7,174 6,826 7,505 311 357 319 348 327 
			 Gloucestershire 3,255 2,633 2,531 1,893 1,828 124 132 97 90 103 
			 Greater Manchester 40,182 41,294 42,493 37,264 31,969 1,342 1,418 1,420 1,368 1,386 
			 Hampshire 7,220 7,166 7,159 6,370 6,506 345 432 422 393 405 
			 Hertfordshire 4,763 3,934 3,452 3,796 3,907 169 124 145 149 151 
			 Humberside 9,607 8,109 6,812 6,033 6,469 306 310 354 266 229 
			 Kent 11,604 10,335 8,248 8,261 7,237 387 404 342 338 336 
			 Lancashire 8,160 7,350 6,504 6,151 6,154 461 496 437 475 407 
			 Leicestershire 6,952 7,210 6,052 4,734 4,600 332 286 273 169 213 
			 Lincolnshire 2,584 2,106 1,998 1,797 1,885 137 114 151 94 82 
			 London, City of 171 139 212 252 381 16 14 8 22 36 
			 Merseyside 14,830 15,306 16,775 16,157 15,081 605 498 497 532 568 
			 Metropolitan Police 55,432 59,409 62,791 62,452 62,114 1,705 1,766 2,016 2,002 2,094 
			 Norfolk 3,212 3,101 2,983 2,280 1,896 106 103 135 115 99 
			 Northamptonshire 5,734 4,449 3,921 3,722 3,761 148 198 234 171 58 
			 Northumbria 13,861 12,498 10,395 8,693 7,837 660 649 598 473 417 
			 North Yorkshire 3,701 2,990 2,622 2,502 2,350 146 122 166 116 122 
			 Nottinghamshire 11,232 8,510 7,035 7,135 7,706 416 311 296 248 250 
			 South Yorkshire 15,631 13,855 11,918 8,939 8,294 489 446 489 414 327 
			 Staffordshire(27) 7,128 7,153 6,003 5,484 5,642 250 267 273 227 233 
			 Suffolk 1,768 1,893 1,742 1,765 1,693 206 202 209 131 120 
			 Surrey 2,231 1,861 2,091 2,995 2,913 103 72 97 103 94 
			 Sussex 6,979 7,076 7,721 6,940 5,442 214 193 234 230 234 
			 Thames Valley 15,432 14,528 14,492 11,479 10,255 387 389 307 367 397 
			 Warwickshire 3,513 2,628 2,519 2,246 2,118 104 108 82 86 88 
			 West Mercia 5,631 4,871 4,690 4,079 3,374 214 218 246 241 205 
			 West Midlands 36,044 34,390 33,230 27,762 25,385 1,081 1,125 1,088 1,032 1,079 
			 West Yorkshire 19,893 23,619 21,197 20,171 23,767 789 891 937 799 829 
			 Wiltshire 1,519 1,524 1,615 1,346 1,271 77 99 110 99 86 
			 Dyfed Powys 869 983 868 861 843 109 119 95 96 100 
			 Gwent 3,429 3,601 3,393 3,074 2,610 193 178 187 161 203 
			 North Wales 2,050 2,116 2,310 1,903 1,990 138 148 175 142 150 
			 South Wales 19,875 18,571 15,850 12,019 11,557 631 736 755 614 576 
			 England and Wales 407,239 391,807 374,686 338,796 328,196 14,769 14,887 15,327 13,984 13,722 
		
	
	(22) For persons convicted also includes the offence of 'Being carried knowing vehicle to have been taken or driven away'.
	(23) The conviction figures relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with.
	(24) Crimes were recorded on a calendar year basis up to 1997 and on a financial year basis thereafter.
	(25) The number of crimes recorded in that financial year using the expanded offence coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998.
	(26) Due to some police forces adopting the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) earlier than its national introduction across England and Wales on 1 April 2002, figures for 200001 and 200102 may be inflated.
	(27) Staffordshire Police were only able to supply a sample of data for magistrates courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter of 2000. Estimates based on this sample are included in the figures, as they are considered sufficiently robust at this level of analysis.